Fonte: ANEEL
Amazonas Distribuidora de Energia was fined by the National Energy Agency (ANEEL) to 11.4 million because of the failure of the indicators of continuity of duration and frequency of power outages (DEC/FEC*) in the year 2006, 2007 and 2009. The company filed an administrative appeal against the notices issued by the enforcement agency, but the board upheld the penalties in the last public meeting (07/19).

The violations occurred when the service to the region was divided between Manaus Energia and Companhia Energética do Amazonas. Amazonas Distribuidora, in position of successor to the two companies, accounts for all rights and obligations of the old companies. Therefore, in the process, they evaluated the transgression indexes committed by the two distributors for calculating the penalties.

As from 2010, the fine for breach of these indicators was replaced by immediate compensation to the consumer via energy bill. Thus, when the distributor violates the individual monthly quality limits established by the Agency, it has the obligation to grant a discount to the consumer via energy bill. Last year, R$ 94.89 million were paid in compensation for breach of individual indicators of Duration of Interruption per Consumer Unit (DIC), Frequency Equivalent Interruption per Consumer Unit (FIC) and Maximum Continuous Duration of Interruption per Consumer Unit (DMIC ). 

The total compensated to consumers across the country reached R$ 360.2 million against R$ 86.1 million of fines imposed on distributors for the same breach between 2007 and 2009. The compensation is automatic and must be paid within two months after the month of calculation of the indicator (the month in which the interruption happened). 

ANEEL has made ​​constant revisions in the regulations dealing with the quality of power supply, in order to give the signal to the appropriate regulatory companies to provide an efficient delivery service. In the next round of rate review, the quality indicators will have significant value in setting rates, with expected rate reduction for companies that do not show satisfactory quality levels. 

The supervision of the Agency has also improved its monitoring mechanisms to track more accurately the service provided by the concessionaires.
Agents that breach the rules of compensation to consumers, for example, are required to make reimbursement to the consumer and receive fines of up to 1% of their annual revenue. (FA/GL)

*DEC – Equivalent Length of Interruption per Consumer Unit.
FEC – Equivalent Interruption Frequency for Consumer Unit.