The Brazilian energy matrix has changed significantly in the last 10 years:
1) The growing importance of non-firm sources,
2) Hourly spot costs – day to day – are highly variable,
3) "Curtailment" is here to stay,
4) Hydroelectric plants are increasingly run-of-river,
5) Brazil is one of the most expensive in terms of $/kWh among the BRICS.
We have an important decision to make. Do we want to face these challenges to "turn the situation around" or do we prefer to "look the other way"?
A proactive way—if the answer is to face the challenge—is establishing that consumers would pay for energy at the real hourly price.
This change would signal the interest and convenience of (1) being "thrifty" with energy use and (2) choosing the most (truly) competitive sources.