Insider

National grid says risk of power outage has grown slimmer

water shortage outage energy
Capitolio reservoir, in Minas Gerais. Photo: Raphael Comber Sales/Shutterstock

Brazil’s rainy season started in October and is helping alleviate the country’s ongoing water crisis. According to national grid operator ONS, early rainfall could improve conditions initially forecast for next year, allowing the country to reduce its reliance on highly polluting and expensive thermoelectric plants.

ONS executive Luiz Carlos Ciocchi told newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo that the operator had expected a more adverse scenario, preparing for end-of-the-year droughts similar to those seen in 2020, when rainfall began in December and was not enough to prevent hydroelectric reservoirs from reaching historic lows.

Nevertheless, Brazilians will continue to pay more for electricity until at least April next year, with the so-called “water shortage” tariff level in place.