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Pioneering In The Public Sector: MPRS Embraces The Free Market And Will Consume Only Renewable Energy For The Next 5 Years.
In an innovative measure that combines cost savings and environmental commitment, the Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Sul (MPRS) signed, on May 16, a contract with Mercatto Comercializadora de Energia Ltda for the supply of over 22 thousand megawatt-hours (MWh) of completely renewable electricity.
The agreement, which is valid for five years, represents an estimated reduction of R$ 1.05 million per year in the institution’s electricity costs, in addition to marking a strategic advance in the sustainability policy adopted by the agency.
Clean Energy And Economy: An Efficient Combination
The energy supply will be provided through the Free Contracting Environment (ACL), a model that allows consumers to choose their supplier, ensuring more competitive prices and greater control over the origin of the consumed energy.
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The contract, which amounts to R$ 6.4 million, directly benefits 26 consumer units of the MPRS classified in Group A — consumers served at medium voltage that account for the majority of the institution’s energy expenditure.
Besides the attractive supply costs, MPRS highlights that the savings obtained are also related to a significant discount on the Usage Tariff of the Distribution System (TUSD).
According to Rogerio da Silva Meira, Deputy General Director of the Public Ministry, “this results both from the more accessible generation price and from the 50% discount on the Usage Tariff of the Distribution System (TUSD).”
This strategy places the institution in a prominent position in the state public sector by adopting a solution that reduces operational expenses and, at the same time, contributes to the mitigation of carbon emissions — one of the main global challenges of today.
Unprecedented Process In State Public Service
The contract with Mercatto Comercializadora, winner of Electronic Bid No. 61/2024, included the participation of other companies in the energy sector, including three suppliers from São Paulo.
The difference in the process was its speed and transparency, conducted just a few months after the opening of the free market for consumers connected at medium and high voltage.
“The success of this unprecedented contract in the scope of state public administration, whose process was initiated only a few months after the free market was opened to all companies connected at medium and high voltage, and without any administrative appeal affecting its result, demonstrates the high level of qualification and engagement of the teams working in the supporting area of the institution, especially the Divisions of Architecture and Engineering, Contracts and Legal Advisory, and Procurement, areas that worked very intensively in this bidding and contracting,” highlighted Meira.
MPRS Reaffirms Its Role In The Climate Agenda
The choice for renewable energy is also directly connected to the internal climate planning of the institution.
According to the coordinator of the Office of Climate Studies (GABCLIMA), Sílvia Cappelli, the measure addresses the goals defined for the adaptation of the institution to the context of the climate emergency.
According to her, “adaptation is essential to reduce exposure and vulnerability to these changes. In addition to contributing to cost savings, this initiative places the Institution at the forefront and national leadership in a pioneering and exemplary manner. It’s a new stage for the Public Ministry, which deserves wide dissemination and serves as an example for other public agencies. The contract is yet another example of institutional commitment to this issue.”
The contract also requires full adjustment of the Billing Measurement Systems, a necessary step for the effective migration to the free contracting environment.
The responsibility for the technical adaptation will rest with the supplying company, as stipulated in the agreed schedule.
Renewable Energy As Public Policy And National Example
The Attorney General of Justice for the State, Alexandre Saltz, reinforces the symbolism and impact of the initiative:
“In addition to being one of the ways to combat carbon emissions, an obligation imposed on all public and private agencies, and to bring savings to the institution, the initiative represents the first concrete step of the Public Ministry towards implementing a new public policy that can inspire other public agencies as well.”
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