Fonte: ANEELThe VIII Brazilian Congress of Regulation of the Brazilian Association of Regulatory Agencies (Abar) held today (8/22), at the Centro de Eventos do Ceará, in Fortaleza, a panel on the renewal of concessions in the electricity sector. The debate was attended by the General Director of the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL), Romeo Rufino, and his predecessor, Nelson Hubner, President of the Brazilian Association of Electricity Distributors (Abradee) Nelson Leite and legal counsel from Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Gustavo de Marchi.
  In his presentation, the General Director Romeo Rufino stressed the aspect of respect for contracts that guided the initiative and drew a picture on the anticipation of the renewal of concessions, process of competence of the Granting Power who had the support of the Agency in its implementation. Rufino also highlighted the importance of the Regulatory Agenda adopted by ANEEL, disclosed in advance to provide the broad debate of issues under regulation with the various segments of society.
   The anticipation of the concessions was effected in the segments of generation and transmission of electricity and, according to general director Rufino, the Agency is ready to implement the guidelines that must be issued by the Public Authority for the renewal of concessions from distributors. To Rufino, among the challenges of the regulatory body are "the consolidation of the new regulatory environment by ANEEL and assimilation of new culture by the agents”.
  In his speech, Nelson Hubner, did a retrospective process of renewal of concessions and addressed aspects of indemnification asset and amortized over its impact on the pricing of electricity offered in auctions. Hubner explained that in the case of distribution, the characteristics of the sector model allowed to postpone the renewal of concessions, which should occur this year.
  To Abradee representative Nelson Leite, “whether we like the decisions by ANEEL or not, we must recognize that it is the most transparent among all agencies. What we need is to separate the tasks of the regulator and the Granting Power”. To him, the concession contract should be the instrument of implementation of tariff policy set by law. “The regulator is the guardian of the concession agreement,” said Leite. Gustavo de Marchi, from FGV, focused on the impact of anticipation of the renewal of concessions in the electricity sector and pointed, from a legal standpoint, disagreement between scholars on the issue of provisional measures that dealt with the renovations.
  In a special panel that closes the debate, journalist Salette Lemos talks with parliamentarians, representatives of consumer protection and the former directors of ANEEL José Mario Abdo, Jerson Kelman and Joisa Campanher over 15 years of Regulation in Brazil – theme which encompasses the achievement of established goals and expected developments in the management and the challenges and prospects for regulatory activity in the country. 
   The aim of the Congress is to reflect and discuss the impact of regulation on improving the quality of life of people. The event, which runs until August 23, is organized by the Regulatory Agency of Public Services of Delegates of the State of Ceará (ARCE – Agência Reguladora dos Serviços Públicos Delegados do Estado do Ceará).
  Simultaneously with the Congress ExpoABAR takes place, a show on regulation which includes activities in the area of infrastructure and the regulated industry, regulators, regulated companies, policymaker agencies and the academic community.