The way Brazilians pay for electricity could undergo a transformation in the coming years. On 9 November 2026, the National Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) presented a technical proposal to extend the use of time-of-use tariffs across the country, including consumers with their own solar generation and new commercial electric vehicle charging facilities. 

The initiative is part of a tariff modernisation process that seeks to align electricity charges with changes in Brazil’s power mix, especially the expansion of solar and wind sources. The proposal provides for replacing the current Tarifa Branca (“White Tariff”) model with a new scheme, called Tarifa Hora Certa, with different prices according to the time of day. 

The change could reach approximately 5.7 million low-voltage consumer units by 2031, according to estimates released by the Agency. Those potentially affected include commercial establishments, small industries, condominiums and consumers with micro and mini distributed generation (MMGD) systems. 

It is important to stress that the proposal still depends on approval by ANEEL’s Board of Directors. The criteria and deadlines presented by the technical department should therefore not be mistaken for rules that have been definitively established. 

What is a time-of-use tariff and how does it work? 

Currently, most residential and commercial consumers supplied at low voltage pay for electricity on the basis of a conventional tariff, which keeps the same price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) regardless of the time at which the electricity is used. 

Under the time-of-use scheme, that logic changes. The price of energy varies according to the period of the day, taking into account the costs of supplying the electricity system at different times. 

ANEEL’s proposal provides for three tariff periods: 

• Peak period: a period of three consecutive hours, generally in the early evening, when demand for electricity is at its highest. The tariff will be the most expensive. 

• Intermediate period: normally comprises one hour before and one hour after the peak period. The price will be intermediate. 

• Off-peak period: covers the remaining hours of the day, when the tariff will be the cheapest. 

On Saturdays, Sundays and national public holidays, the proposal provides for the off-peak rate to apply throughout the day. 

The exact times and prices will not necessarily be the same across Brazil. They will depend on the characteristics and tariff structure of each distribution company. 

In practice, two establishments that consume the same amount of energy in a month could receive different bills. One that manages to concentrate its highest-consumption activities in the cheapest periods could save money. Conversely, one that keeps a significant share of its consumption in the peak period could face higher costs. 

The aim is to encourage the shifting of electricity-using activities to periods when the infrastructure and the availability of energy are in more favourable conditions. 

Why does ANEEL want to change the way energy is charged? 

The proposal is linked to an important transformation in Brazil’s power mix: the growth of solar and wind generation. 

Photovoltaic solar energy, for example, produces most during the day, especially in the hours of strongest solar radiation. However, electricity consumption tends to rise in the early evening, when photovoltaic generation declines and homes and commercial premises step up their use of electrical equipment. 

This mismatch between supply and demand creates challenges for the operation of the electricity system. At certain times there is a great deal of renewable energy available, while at others it is necessary to resort to more expensive sources of generation and to mobilise greater infrastructure capacity. 

The time-of-use tariff seeks to bring the price paid by the consumer closer to the system’s supply conditions throughout the day. 

By offering lower prices in periods of greater energy availability and higher prices at times of greater demand, ANEEL intends to encourage changes in consumption habits. 

This strategy could bring benefits for the electricity sector, such as: 

• Better use of the available solar and wind energy. 

• Reduced concentration of consumption at peak times. 

• Less need for additional investment to meet periods of high demand. 

• Better use of transmission and distribution networks. 

• Greater integration between renewable generation, storage and flexible consumption. 

The proposal does not guarantee a reduction in the bills of all consumers. The outcome will depend on the ability to adapt the times at which electricity is used. 

A brief history: from the White Tariff to the Right Time Tariff

The discussion about time-differentiated tariffs is not new in Brazil. 

ANEEL regulated the Tarifa Branca through Normative Resolution No. 733/2016, making it available from January 2018. The idea was to offer low-voltage consumers an alternative to the conventional tariff, allowing those able to shift their consumption to periods of lower demand to pay less for electricity. 

Implementation was gradual. In 2018, the scheme became available for new connections and for consumers with average consumption above 500 kWh per month. In 2019, the threshold was lowered to 250 kWh. Since January 2020, the option has been available to practically all low-voltage consumers, subject to regulatory exceptions. 

Despite the wider availability, voluntary take-up did not progress as quickly as initially expected. This is because the savings depend on genuine changes in consumption habits, which is not always straightforward for homes and commercial premises. 

In November 2025, ANEEL began studies to modernise the tariff structure, taking into account the transformation of the power mix and the low take-up of the voluntary model. In December of that year, the Agency opened Public Consultation No. 46/2025 to discuss the automatic application of the time-of-use tariff to higher-consumption consumers, initially with a benchmark of 1,000 kWh per month. 

The consultation received contributions from society and from various players in the electricity sector. After analysing the submissions, the technical department presented, on 9 November 2026, a revised proposal, with phased implementation, consumer protection mechanisms and a broader scope covering distributed generation and EV charging stations. 

The new scheme was named Tarifa Hora Certa, signalling an evolution of the existing Tarifa Branca. 

Who will be affected by ANEEL’s proposal? 

The proposal covers low-voltage consumers in the following tariff groups: 

• B1: residential consumers. 

• B2: rural consumers. 

• B3: commercial and industrial establishments and other activities. 

Mandatory inclusion will be gradual and will take into account the average monthly consumption of each consumer unit. 

The timetable presented by the technical department provides for three stages: 

Expected start   Average monthly consumption Estimated number of units

April 2028  From 1.800 kWh  Around 1 million units

April 2029  From 1.000 kWh Around 1 million units 

April 2031  From 500 kWh  Around 3.6 million units

Timetable proposed by ANEEL’s technical department, still subject to regulatory approval. 

Consumers with average consumption below 500 kWh per month will not be included automatically, but may opt in voluntarily. 

The proposal also excludes beneficiaries of the Social Electricity Tariff (Tarifa Social de Energia Elétrica) and the Social Discount, as well as public lighting units and prepaid consumers. 

It is important to note that the thresholds apply to each consumer unit, and not necessarily to the total consumption of a company or a group of properties. 

What about condominiums?

Condominiums deserve special attention because their consumption profiles vary considerably. 

A residential development may concentrate a large part of its consumption in the common areas, with lifts, water pumps, lighting, electronic gates, security systems, swimming pools and air-conditioning equipment. 

In some buildings, the sum of these costs accounts for a significant share of the monthly budget. However, to assess eligibility under the proposal, it is necessary to look at the consumption of the consumer unit linked to the respective installation and to the distribution company’s metering. 

This means that it is not enough to add up the consumption of all the flats to determine whether the condominium will be included in the time-of-use scheme. The unit responsible for metering the common areas, and any other consumer units, must be analysed separately. 

For condominiums that exceed the established thresholds, the change may require a review of the operating times of equipment and services. 

Pool pumps, irrigation systems, electric vehicle charging and programmable equipment can be assessed for operation outside the most expensive periods. 

Activities that depend on residents’ routines, such as lifts and corridor lighting, offer less flexibility. In such cases, planning must take into account that consumption cannot be shifted entirely. 

The building manager (síndico) will also need to monitor consumption data and understand how the times of greatest use affect the bill. Energy management could become even more important in drawing up the annual budget and identifying opportunities for savings. 

Small and medium-sized businesses also need to prepare 

For small and medium-sized businesses, the time-of-use tariff may represent both an opportunity to cut costs and a new operational challenge. 

Establishments with programmable equipment tend to have greater capacity to adapt. A small manufacturer, for example, may consider moving certain production stages to lower-tariff periods. 

Shops that use cold rooms, compressors, air-conditioning systems and higher-power equipment can also study scheduling alternatives. 

However, feasibility depends on factors such as opening hours, the need to serve customers, labour costs and the storage or operating capacity of the equipment. 

Savings obtained by changing the time of use may not offset additional costs for work shifts, maintenance or logistical changes. 

For this reason, the analysis must consider the total cost of the operation, and not just the price per kWh. 

Companies with high consumption should also monitor their energy use history and identify which activities are most concentrated in the peak and intermediate periods. 

Self-generation of solar energy will also be affected

One of the most significant points of the proposal is the inclusion of consumers with micro and mini distributed generation (MMGD). 

Currently, thousands of homes, condominiums and businesses have their own solar generation systems and use the Electricity Compensation System (SCEE), regulated by the legal framework for distributed generation established by Law No. 14,300/2022. 

Under this model, surplus energy produced can be fed into the distribution company’s grid and converted into credits to offset consumption, in accordance with the applicable rules. 

ANEEL’s proposal provides that consumer units with MMGD will also be automatically placed on the Tarifa Hora Certa when their average consumption or grid injection is equal to or greater than 500 kWh per month, over a 12-month window. 

For new units that apply for connection to the Electricity Compensation System from 90 days after publication of the future rule, the proposal provides for mandatory enrolment in the time-of-use tariff, regardless of consumption, with no possibility of opting out. 

This point deserves attention from anyone planning to invest in self-generation. The economic assessment of a solar project will need to consider not only the amount of energy produced, but also the times at which it is consumed and fed into the grid. 

A photovoltaic system may generate most of its energy during the day, but the property may concentrate its consumption in the early evening. In that scenario, the hourly profile becomes an important factor in assessing the use made of self-generation. 

Battery storage and consumption automation may also gain relevance, although their feasibility depends on equipment costs, the characteristics of the installation and the difference between hourly prices. 

EV charging stations: electric vehicle charging will have new conditions 

The proposal also covers new commercial electric vehicle charging stations connected at low voltage. 

The rationale is that vehicle charging is a relatively flexible load, which can be scheduled for different periods of the day, depending on vehicle availability and users’ needs. 

With a differentiated tariff, charging station operators may have economic incentives to concentrate charging in the lowest-cost periods. 

For condominiums considering installing chargers in their car parks, the subject also deserves monitoring. It is important, however, to distinguish private charging infrastructure from a commercial charging station: the proposal establishes specific treatment for new stations intended for commercial operation. 

The installation of chargers in residential developments should be assessed according to the classification of the consumer unit and the final rules approved by ANEEL. 

When could the new tariff come into effect?

The proposal presented in November 2026 still has to go through ANEEL’s Board of Directors. The timetable released by the technical department therefore depends on approval and on the publication of the definitive regulation. 

The transition measures envisaged include mechanisms for consumers to learn in advance about the effects of the change. 

The proposal provides for distribution companies to notify in advance the consumers who will be enrolled and to provide at least three billing cycles of informative bills. These bills will show a simulation of the amount that would be charged under the Tarifa Hora Certa, without immediately replacing the current charges. 

A temporary alternative is also envisaged for consumers who do not wish to remain on the time-of-use scheme. They will be able to request a flat tariff, with a uniform price throughout the day, but higher than the conventional tariff. This option will last two years in each implementation stage and will end in 2033. 

The proposal also provides for a second stage of tariff review, in which ANEEL will assess the times and prices of each distribution company’s tariff periods, including the possibility of creating lower-priced periods during the hours of peak solar generation. 

How can building managers and business owners prepare? 

Although implementation still depends on regulatory approval, building managers (síndicos), property management companies and business managers can already take steps to understand their consumption profiles. 

The first step is to analyse electricity bills for the last 12 months, identifying average monthly consumption and periods of heavier use. 

It is also important to map the equipment that accounts for the largest energy costs and to check which of it can be programmed or have its operation shifted. 

For condominiums, this survey may cover lifts, pumps, swimming pools, lighting, air-conditioning systems and electric vehicle chargers. In businesses, it is worth looking at industrial machinery, cold rooms, compressors and air-conditioning equipment. 

Another important measure is to follow the distribution company’s announcements and ANEEL’s official decisions. As times and tariff values will depend on the concession area, it will not be enough to use references from other municipalities or states. 

The analysis should also consider energy supply contracts, self-generation projects and investment in storage, where these exist. 

More than a simple change in the way charges are made, the time-of-use tariff represents a transformation in the relationship between consumption, energy availability and financial planning. For those who manage condominiums or businesses, understanding these variables will be increasingly important when making decisions on infrastructure, efficiency and operating costs. 

Clean energy and planning: the role of energy management

The tariff modernisation proposed by ANEEL highlights a structural transformation of Brazil’s electricity sector. With the growth of renewable sources, the challenge is no longer just to expand generation capacity, but also to make efficient use of the energy available throughout the day. 

In this scenario, monitoring consumption and assessing procurement alternatives become important practices for condominiums and businesses. 

Clean energy by subscription is one of the alternatives available to eligible consumers. Under this model, the customer receives credits from renewable generation to offset part of their consumption on the distribution company’s bill, in accordance with the rules of the Electricity Compensation System and the contractual conditions. 

The solution does not require solar panels to be installed on the property and can help reduce electricity costs. However, taking it up does not remove the need to monitor the consumption profile, nor does it guarantee protection against possible changes in the tariff structure. 

NewSun supplies clean energy by subscription to condominiums and businesses, offering an alternative for those seeking savings and more organised energy management. 

In a market where charging rules may evolve, information and planning remain essential for building managers and business managers to make informed decisions about energy consumption. 

Discover NewSun’s solutions for condominiums and find out how clean energy by subscription can contribute to the financial management of your development: Visit the condominium solutions page.