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Portuguese Covid Energy Law Impact

Relevant legislation (energy sector related) approved during the COVID-19 period.

Approved legislation / measures adopted during the State of Emergency:

On March 18, the Decree of the President of the Republic no. 14-A/2020 enacted the State of Emergency up until April 2.
On April 2, the Decree of the President of the Republic no. 17-A/2020, extended the State of Emergency period up until April 17.
On April 17, the Decree of the President of the Republic no. 20-A/2020, extended the State of Emergency period up until May 2.
On April 30, the Council of Ministers Resolution no. 33-A/2020, enacted the State of Calamity up untilMay 17.
On May 15, the Council of Ministers Resolution no. 38/2020, extended the State of Calamity period up until May 31.
On May 29, the Council of Ministers Resolution no.40-A/2020, extended the State of Calamity periodup until June 14.
On June 9, the Council of Ministers Resolution no. 43-B/2020, extended the State of Calamity periodup until June 28.
On June 25, the Council of Ministers Resolution no. 51-A/2020, maintained the State of Calamity in certain areas of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. It also enacted the State of Contingency in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, except for the municipalities and parishes covered by the State of Calamity. Lastly, it enacted the Situation of Alert throughout the continental national territory, with exception to the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The present Resolution was valid up until July 14.
On March 22, the Order no. 3547-A/2020, from the Environment and Climate Action Minister, was issued. It regulated the Decree which enacted the State of Emergency, ensuring the supply chains for goods and essential public services keep functioning, as well as the operating conditions under which they must operate.
On April 10, the Law no. 7/2020 (amended by Law no. 18/2020) was issued. It determined the prohibition on interruption or suspension of essential water supply, electricity supply, natural gas and electronic communications services, during the state of emergency and in the month immediately following that period.
On May 29, the Law no. 18/2020, extended the prohibition period of interruption or suspension of these essential services until September 30th of 2020 when due to unemployment, by a drop in the household income equal to or greater than 20%, or by infection by COVID-19.
On June 22, the Ministerial Order no. 149/2020 was enacted. It defines and regulates the terms in which the income loss statement is made for the purpose of not suspending the water, electricity, natural gas and electronic communications supply.
On March 17, ERSE release established exceptional rules applicable during the period in which the state of emergency is in force, seeking to avoid situations of interruption in the supply of energy and protect domestic customers of low voltage electricity and low-pressure natural gas.
On March 18, the Regulation no. 255-A/2020, established extraordinary measures in the Energy Sector due to the Covid-19 Epidemiological Emergency. Furthermore, it establishes appropriate contingency measures for the provision of energy supply services as essential public services for consumers.
Regulation no. 356-A/2020, establishes exceptional measures, with exceptional deadlines, within the scope of the National Electric System and the National Natural Gas System.
DGEG Order no. 27/2020, suspended, the procedural deadlines for the acts and formalities to be performed before DGEG, with reference to the date of closure of the DGEG facilities to the public, including the deadlines for the practice of acts and formalities provided for in competitive procedure documents.
DGEG Order no. 33/2020, extended the suspension of procedural deadlines established by DGEG Dispatch no. 27/2020.

Approved legislation / measures adopted in parallel to the State of Emergency: