Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras S.A, or simply Eletrobras, is a national publicly traded holding company specializing in the segment of electricity. As a publicly traded company, the Brazilian Federal Government holds all the company's stock ownership.
Currently, the company holds 1/3 of all energy production in Brazil, where it operates through subsidiaries that work in the production, transmission, and commercialization of electricity.
In addition to national operations, Eletrobras also has business abroad. In Brazil, the company owns half of the capital of the Binational Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant. As part of the internationalization process, the Company aims to be involved in the operational activities of all countries in Latin America, where it has already been operating in some Latin countries.
Due to the stock ownership being controlled by the Government, Eletrobras is responsible for managing some government programs, such as Light for All, Proinfa and Procel. In summary, the programs aim to promote growth in the electric sector and the equitable distribution of energy.
Of the electric supply lines in the country, 89% are under the control of Eletrobras. Furthermore, as a way to create sustainable means for energy production and transmission, about 96% of the company's installed capacity is focused on low emissions of gases that affect the greenhouse effect.
The history of Eletrobras began in 1961, after the then president of Brazil, Jânio Quadros, signed a law (Law 3,890 – A) that authorized the construction of the company. However, the initial idea for the creation of Eletroras emerged in 1954, when Getúlio Vargas was still the president of the country.
After Jânio Quadros signed the law authorizing the construction of the company, Eletrobras was officially established on June 11, 1962. After the establishment of Eletrobras, the Company was responsible for fulfilling a series of determinations that were part of the company's operational processes.
Among Eletrobras's responsibilities, it was determined that the company should promote studies as well as construction and operation projects for electric power generation plants. Additionally, it was the Company's responsibility to manage the transmission lines and electric substations in the country.
With Eletrobras in operation, the distribution of electricity in Brazil expanded, and the processes of supply and development of energy demand in the country also increased. During the 1990s, the company underwent a series of changes in its corporate profile after losing some state-owned functions.
Furthermore, the Company began to operate widely in the distribution of electricity, with the assistance of companies from Piauí, Alagoas, Rondônia, Amazonas, Roraima, and Acre. Currently, in addition to B3, Eletrobras is also listed on the stock exchanges of Madrid and New York.
