ANP changes gas market rules; understand how this can affect your bills at home

More than 2,500 families could lose a discount on their electricity bill
The National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) approved, this Friday (26), new regulations for the natural gas market. The rules allow different companies to negotiate the use of essential structures in the sector, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, gas pipelines and processing units, under equal access conditions.
In practice, the measure could increase the competitiveness of the gas market in the coming years and, indirectly, benefit the consumer.
The change seeks to increase competition in the gas market by facilitating the access of new companies to this infrastructure, currently concentrated in the hands of large players in the sector. With more competition, the market can become more efficient. The effect, however, is not immediate nor does it mean an automatic reduction in tariffs.
"This has always been a very concentrated infrastructure, so this opening actually increases competition. However, this regulatory measure should take some time to reach the consumer's pocket", explains Carlos Castro, CFP financial planner at Planejar.
The expert compares the logic of the measure to the privatization of the telecommunications sector, in which services became cheaper after the increase in competition.
The regulation puts into practice an excerpt from the New Gas Law, sanctioned in 2021, and is part of a set of measures to reduce market concentration and encourage the entry of new investors.
Among the companies that operate part of this infrastructure are Petrobras, Eneva and GNA. Petrobras also participates in the gas production flow network in partnership with Shell, Petrogal Brasil and Repsol Sinopec, in addition to operating processing units.
According to the ANP, the new rule establishes criteria to make access to these structures more transparent and guarantee equal conditions for all interested parties. Before being approved, the proposal underwent regulatory impact analysis, public consultation and public hearing.
What changes?
Electricity bill
Cemig/Disclosure
Among the main changes is the requirement that companies that manage gas terminals keep the operating activities of these terminals separate from the group's other activities.
The standard also establishes rules for negotiating the use of this infrastructure, defines what information must be disclosed to interested parties and creates mechanisms to prevent part of the capacity remains idle while other companies are unable to access.
The agency also informed that it will give preference to mediation and conciliation to resolve conflicts between companies during negotiations.
This is the ANP's first regulation on the subject. A second standard will still be published to define how conflicts related to access to the sector's essential infrastructure will be resolved.

Source: G1