Government auctions 6 transmission lots, with Taesa, Cemig and EDP among the winners

The electricity transmission auction held this Friday (16) ended with all six lots auctioned, at an average discount of 38.19% offered by the electric companies on the revenues to be received by the undertakings, with Taesa auctioning off two lots .

According to Aneel (National Electric Energy Agency), this discount raised in the event represents savings for energy consumers of around R$ 5.8 billion over the period of the contracts.

In all, the projects auctioned this Friday foresee the construction of 710 kilometers of new lines, maintenance of existing connections, in addition to new substations with a transformation capacity of 3,650 mega-volt-amperes (MVA). Investments are estimated at R$ 3.5 billion.

The main winner of the event was Taesa, which took the two largest projects offered, totaling R$ 2.2 billion in investments estimated by Aneel. The transmitter won lot 3, with lines between Maranhão and Pará, and lot 5, which provides for the operation and maintenance of lines that make electrical interconnection with Argentina.

Another highlight was Cemig, which took lot 1, with works between Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. “This auction marks the return of Cemig as a victor… We were able to unite our operational synergies, because we have many assets in the region”, said Thadeu Carneiro, director of Cemig Geração e Transmissão.

In a press conference, Cemig and Taesa directors said they will seek to be more efficient in relation to the Capex value estimated by Aneel, exploring synergies with current assets and contracts, for example.

Also winning the auction were EDP Brasil (lot 2, in Rondônia), an Alupar consortium (lot 6, in São Paulo) and the EDF company that operates the Norte Fluminense thermoelectric plant (lot 4, Rio de Janeiro).

Other large electrical companies, such as Eletrobras and Engie Brasil, also qualified to participate in the event, although they did not win projects.

JUDICIALIZATION

Lot 6, won by Alupar, was subject to legal action by the transmission company ISA Cteep. The company filed a lawsuit against the inclusion of the project in the auction because it understood that these works should be authorized by it, instead of being tendered to another operator.

After the auction, Hélvio Guerra, director of the regulatory agency Aneel, stated that the decision to bid for the lot was more beneficial from the consumer’s point of view.

“My understanding, from Aneel, is that we were really right… We continue to reaffirm that it is better for the consumer, competition always brings better results. Here was the case”, said Guerra.

2023 AUCTIONS

For next year, the electricity sector expects much larger transmission auctions than those held in recent years, which could add up to R$ 50 billion in investments, confirmed a government representative.

The deputy secretary of the Energy Planning and Development Secretariat, Frederico de Araújo Teles, said that up to three events could be held in 2023, in order to distribute the high number of projects.