Brazil’s energy watchdog Aneel is expecting the sector to lose over BRL 13 billion (USD 2.56 billion) in 2020, following the coronavirus-led economic slowdown. According to the regulatory agency, a BRL 8.7-billion loss is expected due to defaulting consumers, while a decrease of BRL 5 billion in consumption is also expected. Since the beginning of the crisis, energy consumption has fallen by an average of 10 percent.
Back in April, the federal government passed a provisional decree redirecting BRL 900 million to energy companies to subsidize the costs of 9 million households between April and June. Also in April, this live blog showed that energy bills were expected to increase by around 20 percent during the crisis.
On Wednesday, São Paulo Governor João Doria announced the state has negotiated with utility companies to allow clients to continue receiving services even when they have not paid their bills, extending measures initially announced in March.
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