Energy law and municipal authority in distributed generation: applying the principle of practical concordance to the energy transition and local development

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/rfdufpr.v70i3.100367

Keywords:

Cooperative federalism, Urban law, Microgrids, Smart cities, Master plans

Abstract

This article examines the possibility of reconciling the normative centralization of the Brazilian electricity sector with municipal urban-planning powers in the context of the expansion of distributed energy generation. The objective is to analyze how the principle of practical concordance may guide the articulation between federal energy regulation and municipal autonomy in the implementation of sustainable urban policies. The study adopts a constitutional-legal methodology, combining doctrinal, case-law, and comparative analysis, including international case studies and the proposal of a Practical Concordance Index (PCI) applicable to the Brazilian federal system. The findings indicate that the lack of alignment between local urban-planning instruments and the federal energy regulatory framework undermines the efficiency of the energy transition. The article concludes that normative harmonization depends on the establishment of cooperative multilevel governance mechanisms, the adaptation of municipal master plans to the requirements of distributed generation, and the integration of energy planning into municipal urban policy.

Author Biographies

Luiz Ugeda, Universidade de Coimbra – UC – (Coimbra, Portugal)

Doutor em Geografia e em Direito

 

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6073-6878

Lattes iD: http://lattes.cnpq.br/9368120455386031

Email: luiz.ugeda@gmail.com

Karine Sanches, Universidade de Coimbra – UC – (Coimbra, Portugal)

Mestra em Direito Econômico e Social e Doutoranda em Direito Público

 

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9994-1550

Lattes iD: http://lattes.cnpq.br/0292024954401422

Email: kafusanches@gmail.com

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Published

2025-12-26

How to Cite

Ugeda, L., & Sanches, K. (2025). Energy law and municipal authority in distributed generation: applying the principle of practical concordance to the energy transition and local development. Revista Da Faculdade De Direito UFPR, 70(3), 111–142. https://doi.org/10.5380/rfdufpr.v70i3.100367

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Artigos