The price of cooking gas, both piped and bottled, has skyrocketed by more than 20% in 12 months and has become more expensive than the energy tariff in the Brazilian budget

O gas kitchen appliances replaced electricity tariffs and became the villain of Brazilians' domestic budgets. In the last 12 months, piped gas accumulates a high of 26,29%, while bottled gas has a high of 21,36%. The price of both rose more than twice the inflation in the period (10,07%).

For energy and gas consumers, the way out has been to choose strategies to reduce costs, from timed baths, or even ice cream, to food made by air fryer. The distribution of gas cylinders has already dropped 4% in the period between January and July, according to data from Sindigás (National Union of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Distribution Companies).

At Professor Sibele Goulart's residence, in Curitiba, for example, the air fryer and the microwave replaced the oven and stove in most of the meals cooked at home. to save the energy, the alternative was to take colder baths at scheduled times to save money.

Sibele stated: “Sometimes, I have the feeling that if I had an induction cooker I would spend less than with a gas cooker, which the bill came to at R$ 240 this month. At the end of last year, the price of gas varied between R$ 60 and R$ 80 - says the teacher. The value of the energy tariff has been between R$ 80 and R$ 100.

In 2021, due to the drought, energy tariffs increased exponentially

Last year, in the face of the worst drought in 90 years, energy tariffs gradually increased, with the emergency activation of the entire thermoelectric park in Brazil.

In 2022, with the increase in rainfall and the approval in Congress of a limit of 17% (or 18%, depending on the state) on ICMS on fuel and electricity, there was a reduction in energy bill rates. In the 12-month period, the decrease was 10,77% in residential electricity tariffs.

The savings at the Tasca Miúda restaurant, located in the South Zone of Rio, have closely felt this variation in energy rates. In 2021, for example, to save on rates energy, home appliances were replaced by gas models.

Partner André Korenblum comments that he made a large investment, aiming at long-term savings, which did not happen with the successive increases in piped gas, which had a quarterly readjustment and, this year, increased 12,81%, approximately triple the inflation in the period.

Decrease in taxes on gas and fuel helped to reduce prices

In July, Petrobras established two reductions in the price of diesel and three in gasoline. The limit on ICMS also helped to relieve pressure. However, in the case of gas, Sérgio Bandeira de Mello, president of Sindigás, says that the drop in the tax did not have such a great impact.

Owner of two gas resellers in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro for 14 years, Celso Miguez, 54 years old, confirmed a 30% drop in gas sales this year. According to him, consumers ask to pay by credit card or in installments for the value of the gas cylinder.

Since the beginning of August, a portion of the families that receive the Auxílio Brasil, in the amount of R$ 600 from this month until the end of the year, began to receive the gas voucher in its full value. In total, 5,6 million homes in Brazil will receive a voucher worth R$ 110 every two months for the purchase of a 13 kg cylinder.