Proposal to remove overhead energy meters advances in the Federal Chamber

Amazon Energy

Text proposed by the Amazonas deputy establishes mechanisms to promote urban afforestation

Brasilia DF) – An amendment proposed by Amom Mandel (Citizenship), the youngest federal deputy in the National Congress, to Bill No. 4,309/2021 (National Urban Afforestation Policy) provides for the removal of overhead electricity meters in municipalities across Brazil. The measure aims to protect afforestation and urban landscape.

The text was approved by the Environment and Sustainable Development Commission (CMADS), this Wednesday (1). The PL must still go through the Finance and Taxation, Constitution and Justice and Citizenship committees. Afterwards, it goes to the plenary of the Legislative House.

In the final text, the change proposed by Mandel gives municipal governments throughout Brazil the prerogative to remove aerial meters installed in municipalities. The measure is a way to avoid visual pollution and protect urban trees. City halls may also require authorization from concessionaires for metering system installations. Number 3,889/2023, authored by deputy Amom, who contributed to the final drafting of the text, was also incorporated into this PL.

“Concession companies have installed their aerial networks at heights that are absolutely incompatible with the local urban forestry, aiming to reduce installation costs and facilitate network maintenance. We, who already have problems with a lack of urban afforestation, have another loss when companies have to cut down trees inadequately to install these meters”,

said the parliamentarian.

“To protect urban afforestation, the urban landscape and avoid visual pollution, Municipalities may require prior authorization from public and private companies, concessionaires and public service permit holders that operate in the cabling and electricity distribution sector. of external, aerial or centralized electrical energy measurement systems fixed to electrical energy poles, as well as making adjustments and removing said systems, as necessary to ensure environmental preservation”,

specifies paragraph 5 of article 22 of the project text.

Manaus, capital of Amazonas and largest capital in the Amazon region, is the second city with the worst rate of afforestation in Brazil, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). For the deputy, this is an alarming factor, which influences the increase in temperature and thermal sensation in the region, problems already worsened by climate change.

“Cutting trees contributes to heat islands, which makes the quality of life of the population, especially the most vulnerable, completely unhealthy,”

declared.

*With information from consultancy

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