ANEEL’s 2027 budget proposal projects an additional charge of R$ 6.37 billion to cover subsidies exceeding the legal caps established for the Brazilian electricity sector.
The National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) released the budget guidelines for the Energy Development Account (CDE) for 2027. The document points to the need to implement the Resource Complement Charge (ECR), a mechanism created by Law No. 15,269/2025 to fund sector incentive expenses that exceed the caps provided by law.
The total estimated gross expenses for the CDE reach R$ 55.1 billion. Of this total, R$ 47.84 billion corresponds to the annual quotas to be apportioned among consumers. The introduction of the ECR is key to ensuring the account’s balance amid growing expenses with renewable sources and decentralized generation.
The weight of distributed generation on the budget
Distributed micro and minigeneration (MMGD) accounts for the largest share of the new charge, representing nearly 70% of the total ECR amount. While projected expenditure for this segment reaches R$ 8.45 billion, the fixed legal limit is only R$ 4.02 billion, generating a R$ 4.42 billion surplus that must be covered by the new charge.
Incentivized energy sources also contribute to the cost overrun scenario, requiring a R$ 1.94 billion supplementation. According to the regulatory agency’s technical analysis:
The mechanism seeks to cover the positive difference between projected expenses and the legal caps applicable to each line item, ensuring the financial sustainability of sector charges in light of market projections.
Regional tariff impacts
ANEEL‘s proposal introduces asymmetrical effects on tariffs, depending on consumers’ geographical location and voltage level. Reference costs are estimated to increase by 7.3% for the North and Northeast regions, while the South, Southeast, and Center-West regions are expected to see a 3.8% reduction.
For low-voltage end consumers, the tariff impact is modest but distinct: electricity bills in the North and Northeast are projected to rise by 0.77%, with a 0.62% drop in the rest of the country. The agency stresses that these numbers are preliminary and serve as a baseline for public debate.
The next step is a 30-day public call for input. This consultation period will allow sector agents and civil society to contribute suggestions on the ECR calculation methodology and apportionment criteria. Following this phase, the process will move to ANEEL‘s board of directors, where the final 2027 budget will be submitted for definitive approval.