The record 344 MW contracted for Demand Response in 2026 marks a shift in the power sector, where large companies are transforming consumption flexibility into new revenue streams, optimizing the National Interconnected System.
For decades, corporate energy strategy focused on a single variable: the cost of a consumed MWh. However, the advancement of Demand Response mechanisms is beginning to add a new dimension to strategic planning: at what times is consumption truly necessary?
This paradigm shift alters the traditional logic of the electricity sector. Companies with the ability to temporarily reduce or shift their electrical load can now be compensated for offering this flexibility to the system, transforming operational behavior into a new revenue opportunity.
Historic Record and Market Expansion
The movement gained significant scale in 2026. In the third Competitive Demand Response by Availability Mechanism, conducted by the National Electric System Operator (ONS), 344 MW of demand reduction capacity were contracted. This volume is approximately 50% higher than that recorded in 2025, setting a new milestone since the initiative’s creation.
In total, 12 offers were successful, with an average discount of 49.23% relative to the ceiling price. The Southeast/Central-West region led the offering, concentrating 61% of the negotiated capacity, followed by the Northeast and South. Industry, especially the metallurgy sector, was the primary participant, accounting for 86% of the total volume.
Flexibility as a Financial Asset
In practice, the mechanism functions as demand-side capacity contracting. Instead of the system responding to peak loads solely by increasing generation, large consumers commit to reducing their usage when activated by the operator.
According to Gustavo Sozzi, CEO of Lux Energia, this is a fundamental transformation in how companies view energy efficiency:
“Traditionally, consumers seek to negotiate the lowest possible price per MWh. Demand Response adds a new dimension: understanding if part of that consumption can be shifted or interrupted without compromising operations. If that flexibility exists, it gains value for the system and can be monetized.”
How Can Companies Participate?
The structural program, established by the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) in 2022, is aimed at eligible and partially eligible consumers. However, successful participation depends on a rigorous mapping of internal loads.
It’s not just about reducing usage, but knowing what can be made flexible without affecting safety or quality. Gustavo Sozzi emphasizes the need for planning:
“It’s necessary to separate essential consumption from flexible consumption. Then, understand the duration, frequency, and impact of a potential reduction. Only then is it possible to know if there’s capacity that can be safely offered to the system.”
The Future of the National Interconnected System
The growth of this model occurs during a transition in the Brazilian electricity matrix. With the expansion of solar and wind sources, which have intermittent generation, the system needs more resources to balance daily fluctuations. Demand management thus emerges as a complementary resource to batteries and dispatchable plants, increasing resilience and energy security.
The trend for the coming years is a strengthening of this market. As new automation and storage technologies become common in industrial settings, energy consumption will cease to be a passive cost and become a manageable asset. The ability to “not consume” during critical times is proving as valuable as energy generation itself, signaling a future where flexibility will be the competitive differentiator for large companies.
