Giulia Keese Montanhesi
Lawyer at Marcos Martins Advogados
ANEEL’s Normative Resolution No. 885, published on June 23, establishes the criteria and procedures for managing the CONTA-COVID, intended to receive funds to cover deficits or anticipate revenues from energy distributors. The Resolution also regulates the use of the tariff charge from the Energy Development Account (CDE), for the purposes of payments and receipts of amounts intended to cover or defer costs arising from the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
CONTA-COVID, designed jointly by the ministries of Mines and Energy, Economy, ANEEL, BNDES and representatives of the sector, was approved at a public meeting of ANEEL’s board of directors and seeks to reduce the impact on electricity bills and mitigate the financial effects that the pandemic has had on companies in the electricity sector.
“Through a loan from a group of banks, the increases in energy tariffs will be diluted over five years.” (Ministry of Mines and Energy, 2020). It is hoped that the financial situation of the companies in the sector will be preserved and that the funds will ease the burden on consumers at a time when a large part of the population is losing income.