Electro-Intensive Consumer Status

The publication of Decree-Law 15/2022 of 14 January ("DL 15/2022") established the organisation and operation of the National Electricity System (Sistema Elétrico Nacional - "SEN").

It also created the Status of Electro-intensive Consumer ("Status"). In general terms, the Status brings with it a set of obligations and incentives. These are intended to guarantee that facilities benefiting from it enjoy more equal conditions in terms of competition in relation to facilities of the same nature operating in other Member States of the European Union.

The ministerial order now published specifies (i) the eligibility requirements for consumer facilities operators to be awarded this Status (Article 194(1) of DL 15/2022) and (ii) the obligations and support measures for facilities covered by the Status (article 195(3) of DL 15/2022).