Method for the migration of consumer units owned by public entities to the free contracting environment of electric energy

Abstract

Este estudo analisou a migração de unidades consumidoras de entes públicos para o Ambiente de Contratação Livre de energia elétrica (ACL) no Brasil e desenvolveu um método aplicável por instituições públicas para garantir uma transição bem-sucedida. Foram avaliados o arcabouço legal, as práticas de instituições públicas que já migraram e a infraestrutura elétrica necessária para a mudança do mercado regulado para o mercado livre. A pesquisa identificou que a migração para o ACL pode gerar economia significativa e maior competitividade no suprimento de energia para instituições públicas. Contudo, constatou-se um obstáculo jurídico relevante: entes da Administração Pública Indireta, como a Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, são impedidos de fornecer garantias financeiras e de abrir conta em banco privado. Para compreender como superar essas barreiras, foram analisados quatro casos de instituições públicas que migraram com sucesso para o ACL, observando as estratégias adotadas diante da ausência de legislação e ferramentas específicas para orientar esse processo. O estudo também realizou um estudo de caso sobre a Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, avaliando a viabilidade de migração de suas quatro principais unidades consumidoras e o potencial de autoprodução por meio de usinas fotovoltaicas em áreas de sua propriedade. Concluiu-se que a universidade atende aos critérios para se tornar agente livre no ACL e dispõe de área suficiente para alcançar autossuficiência energética atuando como autoprodutor.

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze the migration of consumer units owned by public entities to the Free Contracting Environment of electric energy (ACL) in Brazil and to develop a method that public entities can apply to ensure a successful transition to the ACL. The research evaluated the legal framework, best practices from similar public institutions that have undertaken energy supply migration, and the necessary electrical infrastructure to ensure a successful transition from the regulated energy market to the free energy market. By examining regulatory changes and procurement requirements, the study identified key aspects for achieving cost-effective energy management in public entities. The findings indicate that migrating to the Free Contracting Environment in Brazil offers significant savings while also promoting competitiveness and impartiality in the energy supply of publicly owned institutions. However, the study reveals a critical legal obstacle for such entities: the prohibition of Indirect Public Administration entities, such as Federal University of Santa Catarina, from providing financial guarantees and from opening a bank account in a private bank?both of which are requirements imposed by the Electricity Trading Chamber (CCEE) to participate in the Free Contracting Environment. This makes migration through the wholesale model a challenging endeavor. To address these issues, the study analyzed four successful cases of publicly owned institutions that were able to migrate to the ACL under the wholesale model and examined how these institutions overcame the obstacles posed by the CCEE?s requirements. The assessment of these cases revealed a lack of proper tools and legislation to guide public entities in migrating their consumer units to the ACL, as the institutions analyzed adopted different approaches, adapted to their public nature, to achieve their goal of securing energy supply through freely negotiated electricity contracts. In the context of migration to the ACL, this study also conducted a case study on Federal University of Santa Catarina, assessing the viability of migrating its four main consumer units and exploring the possibility of meeting its energy demand through self-generation infrastructure installed on land owned by Federal University of Santa Catarina in the state of Santa Catarina. The study concluded that Federal University of Santa Catarina meets the criteria to qualify as a free agent in the ACL and possesses sufficient land under its ownership to implement photovoltaic plants, thereby achieving energy self-sufficiency through the role of autoproducer in the ACL.