Electricity generation in the National Interconnected System - SIN decreased by 1.9% in the first quarter, compared to the same period last year. According to data from the InfoMercado Monthly, released by the Electric Energy Trading Chamber - CCEE, the volume consumed in the first three months of 2020 reached 66,532 average megawatts (MW).

Between January and March, the generation of energy through the photovoltaic solar source grew 21.7% compared to the first quarter of 2019. On the other hand, hydroelectric production decreased 2.5% in the period, just as wind power generated 15.8% % less than in the same months last year. In view of this result, thermoelectric generation grew, around 7.4%.

If we count only the month of March, electricity generation dropped 0.7%, compared to the same month in 2019, to 65,089 average MW. The highlights are the 14.2% drop in thermal and wind power generation, and the 29% increase in photovoltaics. In this context, hydroelectric generation increased by 2.1% in relation to March last year.

Consumption 

Energy consumption in the first quarter fell by 1.9% in the annual comparison, from 67,740 average MW to 66,449 average MW. Consumer behavior does not fully reflect the effects of social isolation measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic, which began on March 21.

If we consider the results of March, consumption decreased by 0.8% compared to the same month of 2019. The regulated market fell by 2.5%, to 44,912 average MW, while the free market saw demand grow by 3.4%, to 20,077 average MW, behavior explained by the migration of consumers.

Excluding the effects of migration, in March, consumption would be 0.5% lower in the regulated market and 1.4% in the free market. The reduction in energy consumption in the free market, excluding the effect of the migration of new cargo, is explained by the drop in consumption in 11 branches of activity that correspond to about 56.4% of the total demand in the free market. Among these falls, the transport (-21%), services (-16%), vehicles (-13%) and textiles (-9%) sectors stand out.