Are distributed generation and connection to the Rede Básica the same process?

No. Micro and mini distributed generation (MMGD) connect to distribution, under SCEE and compensation (Lei 14.300, “Law 14,300”). A large power plant connects to transmission (Rede Básica or DIT) through the ONS process in the SIN — without compensation or net metering; its energy is sold at auction (ACR) or in the free market (ACL / PPA).

Where can I check generation export margins?

ONS publishes the Painel de Margens (Suprimento Elétrico), the official map of remaining margin by substation, updated about three times a year. Values are indicative and do not replace an access request or ACR auction capacity publications.

What must the access study show?

Power flow and N-1 contingency analysis using the grid model at your connection point. This is what the parecer de acesso requires — and what the official margins map alone cannot settle.

How can I track the connection queue and access season (PNAST)?

Acesso à Rede Básica tracks queues, seasons (PNAST) and capacity by substation — with the source document and date. Fila de conexão brings together Rede de Operação substations, TUST, registrations and Access Season milestones.

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Journey · large generator / transmission

Connect a power plant to the Basic Grid

Data: July 23, 2026 · ONS — Suprimento Elétrico / access

A power plant (tens to hundreds of MW) connects to transmission — Rede Básica ("Basic Grid") or DIT — through the ONS (Brazil's national system operator) process in the SIN. There is no compensation or net metering: the energy is sold at auction (ACR) or in the free market (ACL / PPA). It is a different scale, grid and set of rules from distributed generation.

Where transmission has headroom

ONS publishes the official map of generation export margins by substation (Painel de Margens / “Margens do SIN”), updated about three times a year. Here we point you in the right direction and perform the study — we do not rebuild the official map.

Official · ONSPainel de Margens — Suprimento Elétrico (ONS)Official page with the remaining-margin map by busbar. Values are indicative — they do not replace an access request or ACR auction capacity publications.ons.org.br/…/suprimento-eletrico

Direct view of the dashboard (Power BI embedded in the ONS page): open the margins map. Formal process: Acesso à transmissão and PNAST.

And here is the continuous margin by connection point, extracted from the ONS dashboard:

Loading connection points…

> 1.000 MW
300 – 1.000 MW
50 – 300 MW
< 50 MW

The access study

After the indicative review of margins, what sets transmission apart is the electrical study at your point: power flow and N-1 contingency analysis using the grid model. This is what the parecer de acesso ("access opinion") requires — and what the official map alone cannot settle.

Product · study

Matt

Study agent: power flow, N-1 and grid editing based on the model you import (PSS/E, ANAREDE and others).

Open Matt →

The queue

Acesso à Rede Básica tracks the fila de acesso ("connection queue"), seasons (PNAST) and capacity by substation — with the source document and date, without making up a number.

Product · data

Fila de conexão

Rede de Operação substations, TUST (transmission-system usage tariff), registrations and Access Season milestones.

Open Fila de conexão →

Price / market

Without compensation, revenue depends on the energy price — auction (ACR) or contract in the free market (ACL / PPA). PLD (Preço de Liquidação das Diferenças, the Brazilian short-term settlement price) is the short-term reference for modeling it.

Product · price

PLD

Preço de Liquidação das Diferenças — for revenue and market-risk scenarios.

Open PLD →

Sources

ONS — Energia no Futuro / Suprimento Elétrico (Painel de Margens) — official generation export margin map (continuous data).
NT-ONS DPL 0005/2026 (LRCAP-2026) — margin snapshot by candidate auction busbar (map above); it does not replace the Margens do SIN dashboard or the parecer de acesso.
ONS — Acesso à transmissão — formal access process.
ONS — PNAST — Plano de Acesso ao Sistema de Transmissão / seasons.
ONS — O que é o SIN — context for the Rede Básica within the Sistema Interligado Nacional.

Margin figures on this page are an auction snapshot (NT-ONS DPL 0005/2026), not the continuous margin. Current capacity comes from the ONS dashboard (or your study); Fila de conexão shows only what has a source and date.

Frequently asked questions

Are distributed generation and connection to the Rede Básica the same process?: No. Micro and mini distributed generation (MMGD) connect to distribution, under SCEE and compensation (Lei 14.300, “Law 14,300”). A large power plant connects to transmission (Rede Básica or DIT) through the ONS process in the SIN — without compensation or net metering; its energy is sold at auction (ACR) or in the free market (ACL / PPA).
Where can I check generation export margins?: ONS publishes the Painel de Margens (Suprimento Elétrico), the official map of remaining margin by substation, updated about three times a year. Values are indicative and do not replace an access request or ACR auction capacity publications.
What must the access study show?: Power flow and N-1 contingency analysis using the grid model at your connection point. This is what the parecer de acesso requires — and what the official margins map alone cannot settle.
How can I track the connection queue and access season (PNAST)?: Acesso à Rede Básica tracks queues, seasons (PNAST) and capacity by substation — with the source document and date. Fila de conexão brings together Rede de Operação substations, TUST, registrations and Access Season milestones.