Intensifying the relationship and communication with its priority audiences was one of the main focuses of the Operator in 2009. With regard to external communication, ONS has participated in various sector technical events, highlighting issues related to the integrated operation of the BIPS, whether through speeches of its directors, presentation of papers by its technical personnel or the disclosure of its results in institutional stands.

The Operator has narrowed, in 2009, its relationship with the press, aiming at providing society with information about future power supply conditions or the main results of the operation of the BIPS. In particular, shortly after the blackout of November 10th, ONS took over its role as provider of reliable and updated information to the media, even still in the process of ascertainment of events.

The General Director of ONS was always available to provide information and give interviews, and participated in several forums and public hearings in the Senate and the Representatives Chamber.

The Communication area attended a lot of journalists from many different vehicles, besides contacts via telephone and email. These actions led to a large number of references to the Operator in the press. In the first three days after the blackout, 121 reports on the written press, 720 on the internet and 26 minutes of television programming about it were presented. In November, 337 reports on the written press were circulated with reference to ONS.

The Operator was subject, in 2009, to 7.8% of the news regarding the electricity sector in the written press. The favorable space in the media achieved the average of 86.8% in the year, less than the registered in the past three years (96.4% in 2008, 95.9% in 2007 and 98.5% in 2006). The index registered in 2009 was influenced by the questioning of the criteria for dispatching additional thermal generation for safety reasons; criticism to the idea of reducing the flow in Sobradinho in the Sao Francisco river, and questions concerning the blackout of November 10th.

ONS website received an average of 1,829 visits per day during the year, proving to be an important tool for dissemination of technical activities of the Operator and for its relationship with the Internet users. The Contact Us section of the site received, over the year, approximately 1,200 messages from visitors.

Regarding the institutional relationship, several technical meeting with associate agents and with the main sector associations were developed in 2009. Two meetings with agents and associations, on June 8th and October 7th must be remarked. The first, held at ONS Central Office and transmitted by videoconference to all locations at ONS, gathered 64 professionals, representing 36 agents and 10 associations.

In this meeting, the actions developed by ONS were comprehensively focused, in order to share its development with the agents. Among the topics discussed, the highlights were the rationalization of the budget, the search for more adequate and standardized facilities, the development of management indicators, and measures to preserve and acquire strategic knowledge to the organization. The major regulatory challenges and methodological issues related to the integration of new systems in the North to the BIPS were also emphasized.

At the meeting held on October 7th, with 51 participants representing 9 organizations and 28 agents, the objective was to identify, from the perspective of agents and associations, which are the main challenges of the Operator for the next five years, so they were considered in strategic planning on the term 2010-2014. Besides the technical and market-related issues, resulting from the increased complexity of the BIPS operation, some associations have emphasized the need for a more clear and objective communication between ONS and society.

A program for relationship with universities has its start, in 2009, with the realization of institutional lectures for students of the faculties of electrical engineering at PUC-Rio, UFF, CEFET and UFRJ. In the next years, this program should be expanded to other cities, and seeks other forms of engagement with universities to ensure the training of human resources appropriate to the needs of the Operator.

The celebration of ONS operating agreements with the Energy Research Company (EPE) signed on January 23rd, and with the Brazilian Water Agency (ANA), signed on October 21st should also be emphasized. In both cases, new guidelines regarding relationship and exchange of data and technical information between the organizations involved were established.