ENERGY SAFETY NETS BRAZIL CASE STUDY

The report evaluates Brazil's 'Energy Safety Nets,' focusing on electricity access and clean cooking. It finds that while Luz para Todos has nearly achieved universal electricity access and Tarifa Social supports basic consumption for the poorest, Bolsa Família is less effective for clean cooking due to non-earmarked funds and rising LPG costs. The study recommends earmarked LPG vouchers, expanded eligibility for electricity subsidies, and a gender-sensitive approach to energy policy.

• Luz para Todos has been broadly effective in expanding electricity access in rural and remote areas, investing over USD 7.1 billion (BRL 26 billion in 2018 prices) to reach over 16 million people through more than half a million projects.
• The Tarifa Social program provides volume-differentiated discounts to low-income households in the Cadastro Único (CAD), with a 65 percent discount for those consuming 30 kWh per month or less.
• While Tarifa Social protects very low-consuming households, it is insufficient for poor households needing more than basic electricity to power appliances like computers or washing machines.
• Bolsa Família's effectiveness in supporting LPG consumption is compromised because the energy component is non-earmarked and the transfer value has not kept pace with LPG price increases.
• There is evidence of a recent increase in households reverting to traditional biomass for cooking, with IBGE reporting an increase to 17.6 percent of households using firewood in 2017 compared to 16.1 percent in 2016.
• A lack of awareness regarding social programs, particularly in the northern region where energy access is lowest, may hinder the impact of safety nets.
• The Brazilian government prioritizes electricity connections for 'traditional' groups, including indigenous Indians, Quilombolas, and Ribeirinhos, especially in remote areas like the Amazon where the national grid cannot be expanded.
• The report notes a lack of evidence regarding the impact of energy safety nets on gender equality, suggesting that increased economic activity for women does not automatically translate to equality and may increase time poverty.

APA

Schaeffer, R., Szklo, A. S., de Lucena, A. F. P., & Rathmann, R. (n.d.). ENERGY SAFETY NETS BRAZIL CASE STUDY. Sustainable Energy for All. https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2020-03/ESN-Brazil-SEforAL.pdf

Chicago

Schaeffer, Roberto, Alexandre Salem Szklo, André Frossard Pereira de Lucena, and Régis Rathmann. ENERGY SAFETY NETS BRAZIL CASE STUDY. Sustainable Energy for All, n.d. https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2020-03/ESN-Brazil-SEforAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Schaeffer |first1=Roberto |last2=Szklo |first2=Alexandre Salem |last3=de Lucena |first3=André Frossard Pereira |last4=Rathmann |first4=Régis |title=ENERGY SAFETY NETS BRAZIL CASE STUDY |publisher=Sustainable Energy for All |url=https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2020-03/ESN-Brazil-SEforAL.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{schaefferndenergy, author = {Schaeffer, Roberto and Szklo, Alexandre Salem and de Lucena, André Frossard Pereira and Rathmann, Régis}, title = {{ENERGY SAFETY NETS BRAZIL CASE STUDY}}, institution = {Sustainable Energy for All}, url = {https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2020-03/ESN-Brazil-SEforAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }