President Jair Bolsonaro (no party) asked that the population turn off a light at home to save energy, this Thursday (26). He said hydroelectric dams could stop working because of the water crisis and said the government is not raising prices "out of malice."
The Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, announced on Wednesday (25) a discount plan on the electricity bill for residential and business consumers that are voluntarily willing to save energy.
Planalto Palace advisers estimate that the adoption of rationing at this time would further damage Bolsonaro in his campaign for re-election.
To cover energy generation costs due to the water crisis, the government needs to activate the thermal plants, which produce more expensive energy. These additional amounts are passed on to consumers through the so-called tariff levels - today, the red, more expensive, is in effect.
The full transfer of energy cost for distributors and analysts will raise electricity bills by 15.2%.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon