Energy Efficiency Obligation Programme

The Energy Efficiency Programme, (Programa de Eficiência Energética das Concessionárias de Distribuição de Energia Elétrica – PEE) was created in 1998 and established obligations on the electricity distributors to invest in energy efficiency.

 

It was designed to demonstrate the importance and economic viability of energy conservation measures and energy efficiency improvements in equipment and processes. In the first years of the programme, investments focused mainly on reducing energy losses in the distribution grid, improving the energy efficiency of street lighting and providing energy audits in the industrial, commercial and services sectors.

 

More recently, most of the investments covered energy management optimisation, in some cases in partnership with ESCOs. Pursuant to Law 9.991 in 2000, electricity distributors were obliged to invest at least 0.50% of their annual net revenue in energy efficiency activities. The obligation will be reduced to 0.25% starting in 2016.

 

In an effort to address fuel poverty, in 2010, at least 60% of the energy efficiency investment under the PEE was required to be for low-income residential consumers (an increase from the 50% requirement established as of 2005).

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