By Brazil Stock Guide – Brazil’s power regulator, the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel), approved the launch of a public consultation to assess the adoption of smart electricity meters across the country, as part of a broader push to modernize power distribution networks.
The consultation, approved on Tuesday (27), will collect contributions from Jan. 29 through March 16 and will examine whether regulatory intervention is needed to guide the deployment of smart metering systems. The devices allow real-time monitoring of electricity consumption and are seen as a key enabler for more advanced grid management.
Following internal studies and technical assessments, Aneel recommended an approach that would begin with a formal cost-benefit analysis. If the evaluation produces positive results, the next step would be the definition of an implementation plan requiring power distributors to adopt smart meters on a mandatory basis.
The discussion comes as the regulator advances parallel debates on new electricity tariff structures. In December, Aneel opened a separate public consultation on expanding time-of-use pricing models, under which electricity rates vary depending on the time of day. Technical assessments have linked the viability of such tariffs to upgrades in distribution infrastructure and the widespread use of advanced metering technologies.
The outcome of the consultation is expected to inform future regulatory decisions on the pace and scope of smart meter deployment in Brazil’s power sector, with implications for distributors, consumers and tariff design.