The Modern Tariff project was conceived with the objective of analyzing different tariff methodologies for the Distribution segment and proposing appropriate methodologies for the Brazilian case. These new methodologies are capable of addressing the challenges faced by the sector in the context of technological transition and changes in consumer behavior. The project is put into practice through three subprojects.
Subproject 1 – Sectoral Strategic Vision focuses on taking a strategic look at the changes occurring in the international electricity sector to observe the main trends and challenges worldwide. From this international perspective, Subproject 1 seeks to translate these trends to the context of the Distribution segment of the Brazilian Electric Sector (SEB), resulting in scenarios for the diffusion of distributed energy resources.
Based on the analyzed strategic scenario, Subproject 2 – Tariff Design Methodologies for Wire Service and Implementation Challenges aims to evaluate existing tariff design methodologies to propose new tariff modalities for the SEB, considering the scenarios of distributed resource diffusion. Given its importance and complexity, the scope of Subproject 2 is addressed by two executors: one dealing with short-term tariff proposals and the other with the elaboration of long-term tariff proposals. In this sense, various proposals for wire tariff methodologies are simulated using real data from the Brazilian context. Furthermore, in this subproject, simulation tools are generated to facilitate the analysis of the proposals by sector agents and disseminate knowledge. Also within the scope of Subproject 2, a sample survey is conducted with residential and commercial low-voltage consumers in urban and rural areas with national geographical coverage. The survey allows for evaluating consumer understanding of their tariff and bill, as well as consumer acceptance of new forms of pricing.
Finally, Subproject 3 – Regulatory Impact Analysis qualitatively and quantitatively evaluates the impacts of each proposed tariff modality resulting from Subproject 2 on agents in the consumption, generation, and distribution segments. The impact analysis considers technical and regulatory aspects of the Brazilian electricity sector and the development of software to evaluate consumer behavior regarding the possibility of meeting demand response or inserting distributed generation and storage in their homes.
