RELIVRE Statement – Naturgy Delays the Opening of Rio de Janeiro's Free Natural Gas Market
The decision issued by the 2nd Public Treasury Court of the Capital District on July 24, 2026, highlights an uncomfortable reality: Naturgy, through CEG and CEG Rio, continues to resist the opening of Rio de Janeiro's free natural gas market despite failing to demonstrate any actual risk or financial harm, while obtaining additional time through the courts at the expense of consumers.
No actual financial loss. Agenersa has already approved the standard Distribution System Use Agreement (CUSD), which guarantees the concessionaire's remuneration for the use of its distribution network regardless of who supplies the gas to the end consumer. Naturgy will continue to receive revenue for gas distribution whether customers purchase gas from the company or from any other supplier. There is therefore no loss of net revenue associated with customer migration—only the loss of a commercial monopoly position that the company continues to seek to preserve.
Naturgy's supplier has already provided contractual flexibility. Naturgy's main natural gas supplier has relaxed the relevant contractual provisions, mitigating any potential risk of financial losses for the distributor or its captive market resulting from customers migrating to the free market.
The free market is expected to increase, not reduce, natural gas consumption. Consumers who currently suppress demand because of uncompetitive prices—or who have shifted to less efficient energy sources—would be encouraged to expand their use of natural gas once they are free to negotiate supply contracts. Higher consumption means greater throughput in Naturgy's distribution network, increased revenue from network usage, and greater potential for infrastructure investment. Opening the market would ultimately benefit the concessionaire that is currently opposing it.
Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro bears the cost: a less competitive industrial sector, captive consumers facing higher costs, and a state watching other regions of Brazil move toward a more modern and competitive natural gas market.
RELIVRE supports the implementation of Agenersa's resolution, which establishes 10,000 m³/day as the minimum consumption threshold for migration to the free market, and questions the reasons why the distributor continues to seek restrictions on the opening of Rio de Janeiro's natural gas market.
