CESP

CESP – Companhia Energetica de Sao Paulo (CESP) is one of the largest power generation company in Sao Paulo state. It was created in 1966 by the Sao Paulo state government through the merger of 11 companies in the state. Up to the end of the 1990’s, the company was vertically integrated, operating in the power generation, transmission and distribution areas in Sao Paulo state. Its assets were then reorganized in compliance with the Sao Paulo State Privatization Program. Distribution assets and operations were merged into a subsidiary and privatized; transmission assets were transferred to CTEEP; and generation assets and operations were divided among CESP and 2 other privatized generators. CESP’s customers are Brazil’s main power distributors who purchase their power by means of long-term contracts, through auctions on the regulated market, and free customers, consisting of energy traders and large-scale final consumers who acquire their power through medium and long-term bilateral agreements. Virtually all the company’s output through 2012 has been acquired at “fixed” prices, although these are indexed to inflation and therefore move up over time. These contracts will begin to expire in 2013.