Consumer News

Return value paid more for light must be sought in court

4/2/2010

BY ALINE SALGADO

Rio - Consumers can fight in court for repaying the amount overpaid on electricity bills. The actions aim to guarantee customers the right to historical losses, which, according to the Court of Audit (TCU), reach R$ 1 billion annually. The president of Anacont (National Association of Protection and Assistance for Workers), José Roberto Soares de Oliveira, the utilities must return the cash amount paid "improperly" by users.

"Customers should look for the prosecutor or any entity of consumer to bring them to collective action against the utilities and thus may require a refund of R$ 1 billion checked at TCU," he explains.

A new formula for calculating the rate of light was released on Tuesday by the National Agency of Electrical Energy (Aneel) in an addendum to the distributors will have to join. The change is based on TCU's report which indicated irregularities in the setting of tariffs, and did not consider the gains of the power distribution market. The new methodology should reduce by two percentage points to the value of the end of light. Companies have 10 days to challenge the measure.

The coordinator of Pro-Test, Maria Inês Dolci, said the press should consume Aneel. According to the lawyer, is the responsibility of the agency to define how the distribution will compensate consumers.

"Individually, we can not verify the client losses. It is difficult to quantify the value. Aneel should have posted on each consumer class has lost, and what methodology was used to create the new calculation and forms of compensation for historical loss, "said Maria Ines, who is anticipated that ongoing administrative proceedings against the regulatory agency.

Architect Cirlene Cavalcante, 40, is in favor of compensation. He says he would rather receive a discount on the bill. "It is more difficult to control spending, with the heat you're doing. The air-conditioning, for example, is on at night. I would take the refund and rebate account, "he says.

Power consumption hits new record

With temperatures at around 40 ° C, Brazilians use air conditioning to cool off and trigger the consumption of electricity in Brazil Yesterday, the Independent System Operator (ONS) reported a new record in electricity consumption. The peak was in the afternoon at 14:58, and reached 70.1 gigawatts (GW). On Tuesday, had already occurred consumption of 68.7 GW, about the same time.

The chief minister, Dilma Roussef, yesterday dismissed the possibility of the country have problems of energy shortages in the coming months, despite the increase in electricity consumption. "We have enough energy in the reservoirs. We are not passing any energy problem. It is normal that there were surges in Summer time by increased use of air conditioning. The system is responding well, "he said.



Source: Portal do Jornal O Dia  

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