The aim of this paper is to contribute to today’s discussion on
Government’s implication on electrical rate systems. We show the
progressive centralization in the regulation of electric rates that was in
force during the ‘Estado Novo’ and the effects of certain policies that
produced different lifestyles, in what regards the use of energy in the two
main Portuguese cities (Lisbon and Oporto). Finally, we explain why,
from the demand point of view, today’s electrical rate system (used since
the nationalisation, c.1975) isn’t more “social”, as it was announced,
than the former regressive rate system used during ‘Salazarism’.