CPFL and Neoenergia verify firm demand of industry
DCI 03/11/2009
In the opposite direction of what the Energy Research Company (EPE, Empresa de Pesquisa Energética) disclosed on the result of the consumption of energy by the industry in January, CPFL Energia affirms it observed a recovery in the demand of electric energy by the productive sector in the first two months of 2009. The main increases were seen in the sector of pulp and paper, which increased the consumption by 15% in the second week of February, the sector of chemical and packaging industries and even the steel industries, with prominence for those related to the car sector began 2009 registering an increase in the demand in relation to December 2008. According to the president of the holding, which includes seven distributors, Wilson Ferreira Junior, the company did not feel any revision of the demand of the volume of energy contracted by large clients. In total, the company serves 6.4 million clients in 568 municipalities in SP, RS, MG and PR. In sales, it has 21% of the Brazilian free market. This resumption of the industrial consumption was also verified by Comerc Comercializadora which registered growth of 4.64% compared to the consumption of January. But, compared to the same month of 2008, the fall is still relevant, 13.03%. In the market in which the contracting environment is regulated and where the residential and commercial classes are included, the CPFL presented an increase of 8% compared to 2007. The president of the holding said that will be the trend of this class of consumers, a position that is confirmed by the Financial and Relation with Investors Officer of Neoenergia, Erick Breyer. Neoenergia is responsible for Coelba, Celpe and Cosern (Bahia, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte). Breyer affirmed the crisis does not affect the residential class because when there is a possibility to cut consumption, such action is taken immediately, thus it is only due to unemployment that the distributed volume can get to the company, which keeps its annual investments in distribution of R$ 1.16 bi (US$ 504 million) until 2011.