Piracicaba Implements New Public Lighting Fee

The municipality of Piracicaba, São Paulo, has officially implemented a new charge for public lighting services starting January 1, 2026. Known as the Contribuição para Custeio do Serviço de Iluminação Pública (Cosip), this measure was established by a law approved by the Municipal Council in May 2025.

The fee applies to all property owners, including those with properties connected to the electrical grid and those with unconnected or unconstructed properties. For properties connected to the grid, the charge will be added monthly to the electricity bill and will vary based on consumption. For properties not connected to the grid or without construction, the fee is a fixed annual amount collected via the IPTU tax booklet.

The legislation dictates that all funds raised will be used exclusively for the maintenance, expansion, modernization, and improvement of the city's public lighting infrastructure. The project was approved by the City Council with 15 votes in favor and 6 against, amending the Municipal Tax System legislation.

As of January 1, 2026, residents and property owners in Piracicaba are subject to the new Cosip charge. The law mandates that the fee be paid by anyone living in properties connected to the energy grid, as well as owners of properties that may have construction but are not connected to the grid.

The billing method depends entirely on the property's connection status. The local administration has outlined two distinct methods for collecting the contribution:

• Connected Properties: The fee is charged monthly alongside the electricity consumption bill.
• Unconnected/Unconstructed Properties: The fee is charged annually through the IPTU (Property Tax) booklet.

For properties connected to the electrical grid, the monthly cost of the Cosip is not a flat rate. Instead, the value varies according to the monthly consumption of electricity. For those not connected to the grid or owning unconstructed land, the contribution is a fixed amount charged once a year.

The creation of the Cosip was the result of a legislative process that began well before the implementation date. The project was approved by the Câmara Municipal (City Council) in May of 2025, providing a buffer period before the charges commenced in 2026.

The proposal required modifications to existing legislation, specifically altering the Lei Complementar 224/2008, which governs the Municipal Tax System. The voting in the City Council resulted in 15 votes in favor and 6 votes against the creation of the contribution.

According to the text of the legislation, the resources collected through this new contribution are strictly allocated. The funds are destined exclusively to cover costs, expand, modernize, maintain, and improve the public lighting services throughout the municipality of Piracicaba.

What is the Cosip?
The Cosip is the Contribuição para Custeio do Serviço de Iluminação Pública, a new fee in Piracicaba designed to fund public lighting services.

When did the charges start?
The charges officially started on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

How do I pay if my property is not connected to the grid?
If your property is not connected to the energy network or is unconstructed, you will pay the fixed annual contribution via the IPTU carnê (tax booklet).