“We have concluded that it is not necessary to decree summer time,” declared the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, during a press conference in Brasília, shortly after his meeting with representatives of the National Electricity System Operator.
He specified that the country’s water situation is improving, although it remains modest, adding that the government is considering possibly reintroducing this measure for the summer of 2025/2026.
The minister explained that the peak effectiveness of summer time is in October and November, noting that if the measure were introduced now, its impact would be minimal, because its implementation would require preparation time for s adapt to changes.
According to him, DST should not be seen only from a political perspective, but has implications for both the energy sector and the economy in general.
Comparing the situation to that of other countries, he said nations like France adopt summer time mainly for economic reasons.
Daylight saving time was first introduced in Brazil in 1931, but was suspended in 2019 under the government of Jair Bolsonaro, who argued that consumption habits had changed, making the measure less effective. This year, although the government considered its return due to drought, the final decision was to abandon it.
A recent survey shows that public opinion is divided on the subject: 47% of Brazilians are in favor of the return of summer time, while an equivalent proportion is opposed to it. Other polls indicate that 54.9% of the population supports the measure, highlighting interest in its reintroduction.
