Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
27/1/2010
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
Although they represent improvements over the previous law, new criteria for granting the benefit still has problems
It was enacted on January 20 a new Law on Social Tariff Electricity (Law 12212/10), which establishes rules for discounts on bills of low-income consumers.
The main novelty is that now the criterion for granting the benefit is the socio-economic status: now had the right to social tariff families with income up to half the minimum wage (R$ 255), provided that the monthly power consumption does not exceed 220 kilowatt hours (kWh).
Before, they were automatically favored consumers with spending of up to 80 kWh / month, which does not necessarily reflect the condition of poverty. Could get the discount, for example, a person who, to live alone or stay at home recently, spent little energy, regardless of their purchasing power.
Despite being an improvement over the previous rule, the new test still has problems. "The ceiling of monthly consumption of 220 kWh for the rebate can exclude consumers multifamily units, so common among low-income populations, or families," warns Renata Farias, lawyer Idec.
For Idec, what stands out positively in the new law on social tariff is the discount different for indigenous and maroon, segments of society in situations of extreme vulnerability, and historically disadvantaged. Under the new rule, these consumer groups with monthly consumption of up to 50 kWh, the exemption will be 100%.
Register
The new law is binding, in addition, authorization to use a form of registration with the government, is entered in the Single Registry of social programs, entitlement is the benefit of the continued provision. Although, at least in theory, be more equitable than earlier forecast, the requirement for registration may, in practice, exclude many consumers, if there is adequate disclosure eoo correct procedure and easy registration.
There is also the prediction rules by the National Electric Energy (Aneel) criteria for the cut in supply by non-payment and installment debt. Idec will be alert and monitor the developments of this regulation, since this point is one of the greatest impact for the consumer.
Percent Discount
Under the new rules, the discounts on behalf of the consumer shall be calculated as follows:
- Consumption exceeding 30 kWh per month will have 65% discount;
- Consumption of 31 kWh per month and 100 kWh per month will be 40%;
- Consumption of 101 kWh per month and 220 kWh per month will be 10%;
- Consumption exceeding 220 kWh per month will not discount.
Source: Portal Idec
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.