Energy traders facing smaller consumers

Until recently, the typical client of an energy trading company had an energy directorate and a team dedicated to contracts. With the arrival of smaller consumers, Daniel Carvalho, commercial manager at Neoenergia, told Canal Solar that customer acquisition has changed because the customer profile has changed, and that communication needs to be simpler.

The next leap has a deadline set in law. Law 15,269, of 24 November 2025, inserted paragraph 17 into Article 15 of Law 9,074/1995: the reduction of free market access thresholds takes place within up to 24 months of the provision entering into force for industrial and commercial consumers, and within up to 36 months for the others. The opening is conditional on requirements such as a consumer communication plan and regulation of the supplier of last resort, addressed in Article 15-C.

This calendar organises commercial strategy. Serving those without an energy department calls for a standardised product, a readable contract and close service.

The schedule is written. The supplier of last resort, which gives the small consumer the security to switch supplier, is the regulatory piece to watch.