Brazil’s power regulator Aneel authorized a round of new rate hikes for power distributors in the state of São Paulo and in Brasilia, the agency said Tuesday. Aneel authorized increases of between 36%-41% to São Paulo distributor Elektro, which serves 2.4 million consumers in 228 municipalities in the states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso. The agency also authorized an increase of 20% to Brasilia distributor CEB, which serves 960,000 consumers in the nation’s capital. The rate increase for Elektro is scheduled to take effect on Aug. 27, while the increase for CEB will take effect on Aug. 26. The latest rate increase authorizations come as the government seeks ways to offset the impact of low water levels and rising costs brought by low rainfall at the country’s hydroelectric facilities this year and the need to substitute them with thermoelectric generation. Last week Aneel authorized rate adjustments in three other states, and confirmed it expects more cycles of rate adjustments through 2015 and 2016.