Solar energy, energy storage and electricity costs feature in the government programs of Flávio Bolsonaro, of the Liberal Party (PL), and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of the Workers’ Party (PT), the candidates in the second round of Brazil’s presidential election. Both propose expanding renewable energy and storage capacity, while identifying lower electricity costs as a priority for the energy sector.

The documents also link Brazil’s low-carbon electricity mix to industrial competitiveness, investment and the development of new industrial value chains, although their approaches and levels of detail differ.

Both candidates identify lower energy costs as an objective of their energy policies. Bolsonaro’s program outlines measures directly targeting electricity bills, including streamlining charges and cross-subsidies, gradually reducing the Energy Development Account (CDE) and incentives for energy sources, and cutting taxes on electricity and fuels. The proposal calls for maintaining the social electricity tariff and regulating different energy sources with the lowest final cost to consumers as a benchmark.

Lula’s program also identifies lower electricity costs as a priority for the next government, but links the issue to fair tariffs and the financial sustainability of the electricity sector. The document calls for discussions on ways to reduce energy costs for households and businesses.

The program also refers to Petrobras’ new pricing policy and measures to mitigate fuel and gas price volatility. It highlights the Luz do Povo program, which expanded access to free electricity for households registered in Brazil’s Unified Registry for Social Programs (Cadastro Único) with monthly consumption of up to 80 kWh.

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