With the expansion of the free energy market in 2024, Copel Mercado Livre concluded the year reaffirming its position as a reference in the Brazilian energy sector. Since its creation in 2016, the subsidiary has been a strategic pillar for companies seeking to reduce costs and gain predictability in electricity consumption.

With the new free energy market regulations established by Ordinance 50/2022 of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, all high-voltage consumers can benefit, allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to save up to 35% on their electricity bills.

According to the Electric Energy Commercialization Chamber (CCEE), 2024 was a record-breaking year. By November, the organization had registered 23,698 migrations to the Free Contracting Environment (ACL) – approximately three times the total recorded in 2023 (7,397).

Of this total, about 74% of the consumers entering the free market are small and medium-sized businesses, such as supermarkets, farmers, restaurants, clinics, and small factories, seeing this environment as an opportunity for freedom of choice and negotiation. In Paraná, 4% of energy consumption comes from the free market – with the state ranking behind only Minas Gerais and Pará.

In 2024, Copel Mercado Livre traded an average of 2.7 gigawatts of energy, serving a portfolio of more than 1,500 clients across 22 Brazilian states and the Federal District. The company followed the expansion of the free market and invested in operational solutions to enhance customer experience.

Investment in Technology and Excellent Service

In 2024, the Copel Group's energy trading company consolidated its digital structures, marking a year of significant advancements in technology and customer service. The implementation of a new operational management system brought more agility and efficiency to contract management, measurements, and consumption forecasts. With constant updates, the system allows business scalability, optimizes service time, and offers clients who use Copel Mercado Livre's energy management service exclusive access to a portal for information consultation.

In customer relations, the trading company began modernizing its Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution. The goal is to work more productively, improve response times, and offer customized solutions to companies wishing to migrate to the free market. Today, the energy contracting process is 100% digital, allowing customers to complete the entire process practically and securely, from consumption simulation to contract signing.

Certified Clean Energy

Trading 100% renewable energy, generated exclusively from the Copel Group's own plants, Copel Mercado Livre also stood out in sustainability. The I-REC certification (International Renewable Energy Certificate) verifies the clean origin of the energy, offering a key differentiator for clients committed to environmental goals.

Since 2022, over 6.5 million MWh have been traded with certification, with 3.1 million MWh in 2024 alone. Currently, 82 companies consume certified energy from Copel Mercado Livre. According to the company's director, Rodolfo Lima, the certification can be used to offset greenhouse gas emissions under the GHG Protocol. "Additionally, certified energy helps companies gain competitive advantages in markets that value initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Lima added.

Satisfied Clients

Copel Mercado Livre ended 2024 with strong customer trust, reflected in an excellent satisfaction score in a survey conducted by Paraná Pesquisas, a public opinion research institution. With a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 74.9, the subsidiary of Companhia Paranaense de Energia saw an 8.08% increase in customer satisfaction compared to 2023.

NPS is a widely used metric to measure customer loyalty, based on the likelihood of recommending the company to others. Scores above 75 are considered excellent. For Rodolfo Lima, this indicator not only confirms the success of customer experience strategies but also reinforces the commitment to continuous improvement in service quality.

Market Expansion

Looking at the growth of the free energy market, Lima stated that Copel plans to consolidate its presence in the national market and invest in developing new products. "We are focused on developing increasingly personalized solutions that meet the new demands of the energy sector and its consumers while also creating real value for our clients," emphasized Lima.

The Free Energy Market

The free energy market is an environment where sellers and buyers can negotiate electricity and have the freedom to agree on price, quantity, supply period, and payment conditions. This system differs from the traditional regulated market, where most customers buy energy from utility companies.

In the free market, consumers can choose their energy supplier, making the market more diverse and competitive. This model leads to lower prices and allows customers to plan their energy expenses while protecting themselves from cost fluctuations.

To migrate, consumers must first inform their current energy provider of their intention to switch. This process, called contract termination, must be done with Copel Distribuição in most of Paraná, which serves 394 municipalities. Additionally, they need to sign a purchase contract with one of the authorized energy trading companies operating in the free market.

To verify if a company belongs to Group A, consumers can check their electricity bill.

Copel Mercado Livre

Created to operate in the free energy market, Copel Mercado Livre is the energy trading arm of the Copel Group, one of the largest integrated energy companies in Brazil. Copel also operates in power generation, transmission, and distribution, with a generating capacity of 6.5 GW, 10,000 kilometers of transmission lines, and over 200,000 kilometers of distribution networks. Since its establishment in 2016, the trading company has ranked among the industry's largest, providing reliability and trust to help clients reduce electricity costs.