Energy consumption in Brazil increased by 2.5% in the first half of September in relation to the same period last year, consolidating the trend of resumption of economic activities in the country. The volume of energy consumed between the 1st and the 15th of this month was 63,660 average MW, against 62,113 average MW verified a year earlier, according to the preliminary data that make up the fortnightly InfoMercado bulletin, released by the Electric Energy Trading Chamber - CCEE.

In the Regulated Contracting Environment - ACR, which brings together consumers whose energy purchase is made by the distributors, consumption remained practically stable in September (+ 0.1%), adding 43.343 average MW. In the Free Contracting Environment - ACL, where consumers can choose their energy supplier, the increase was 7.9%, reaching 20,318 average MW.

After migrating to the free market, the ACR would increase by 2.2% and the ACL, increase by 3.2%. The self-producers increased their consumption by 6.35%, to 2,245 average MW.

Even with the gradual return of activities, which were reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the vehicle (-5.0%), services (-4.3%) and transportation (-3.5%) segments still registered the biggest drops in consumption. However, with milder retractions than in previous months. Most segments, on the other hand, increased their consumption: sanitation (28.2%), commerce (20.6%) and beverages (14.6%). Part of the increase is directly linked to the migration of consumers to the ACL.

When purging the effect of migration to the ACL, there is an increase in consumption in the beverage (10.6%), non-metallic minerals (10.6%), chemicals (9.3%), wood, paper and cellulose sectors (8.4%), various manufactured goods (6.1%) and metallurgy and metal products (5.0%).

Generation 

Power generation in the National Interconnected System - SIN advanced 3.4% in the first half of September compared to the same period in 2019, from 64,450 average MW to 66,621 average MW. The highlight was due to the increase in the production of hydraulic (16.7%), wind (12.6%) and photovoltaic (24.2%) plants. Only thermal plants showed a decrease in their generation (-36.8%), including biomass, which had been showing an increase in generation in the last months.

Autoproducers presented, in the first 15 days of September, a generation 10.5% lower than that verified a year earlier, for 1,359 average MW.