In 2012, ONS continued its institutional relationship with the society, concentrating its focus on clarifying the most relevant issues related to the operation of the BIPS.

It is worth noting the intense relationship and coordination with the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency within the Power Sector Monitoring Committee, which allowed seeking feasible solutions to ensure the security of supply of electricity at the lowest cost.

The industry associations were also the focus of ONS relationship actions. Lectures were given by the operator in several industry associations - COGEN, ABRACEEL, CNI Infrastructure Council and FIESP - to present the results of studies, as well as to discuss other matters of mutual interest. One of the main forums for relationships with associations was the 9th National Meeting of the Electricity Sector Agents, important event of the electricity sector in which ONS participated.

ONS participated in other events in 2012 that helped strengthen the relationship with specific segments of the external public:

• 2º ENERGEN Latin American;
• Wind Forum Brasil 2012;
• II Encontro Internacional de Inovação Tecnológica Sustentável;
• 6º ENOP - Encontro Nacional de Operadores de Sistemas Elétricos;
• 1ª Exposição e Forum Internacional sobre Centro de Operação e Controle das Empresas de Energia Elétrica;
• 25º Encontro de Negócios da Duke Energy International;
• 2nd. Hydro Power Summit Latin America;
• 1º Curso sobre o Setor Elétrico para a Magistratura;
• Panorama da Energia Elétrica no Rio Grande do Sul;
• Sustainable Energy for all Latin America and the Caribbean da Conferência Rio+20;
• Curso de Regulação e Negócios no Setor de Energia Elétrica;
• Seminário Internacional de Integração Elétrica na América do Sul GESEL/UFRJ;
• XIII Forum Nacional de Energia e Meio Ambiente no Brasil – Senado Federal;
• VIII Conferência de Centrais Hidrelétricas;
• Large Disturbances Workshop -  2012 Cigré  Session;
• 2012 Brazil Wind Power;
• 2012 Energy Summit;
• Camara Oficial Española de Comercio em Brasil;
• American Chamber of Commerce – Brazil;
• XIV Congresso Brasileiro de Energia;
• XII EDAO – Encontro de Assuntos da Operação;
• Seminário Cresce Brasil – Federação Nacional dos Eletricitários;
• WIND LATAM Brasil;
• Comercialização de Energia Eólica no Mercado Livre – CCEE.

The detailing of the procedures and implementation of the Plan of Communication Management in Crisis Situation was continued in 2012, which aims to improve the communication of the operator with its stakeholders at critical moments in order to preserve its image and reputation. The Plan establishes policies and procedures to be followed in the event of temporary interruptions in the supply of electricity to the consumer market and was constructed after a bechmarking work performed with large national companies and the operators of systems participating in the GO 15.

With the goal of keeping society informed on the conditions of energy supply and the results of operation of the BIPS, ONS kept the relationship with the media, both through interviews of its CEO, and with the explanations provided by the communication staff. The percentage of favorable exposure of ONS in the press in 2011 was 86.3%.

ONS website received an average of 2,443 visits per day during the year, confirming its importance as a tool for the dissemination of the technical activities of the Operator and relationship with the Internet. The Contact Us section of the site received an average of 127 visitors’ posts per month.

ONS activities on the centralized operation of the BIPS aroused the interest of other segments of the external public, especially students, technicians in the industry and foreign technicians, assisted by Institutional Visitation Program. Several foreign delegations were received at the Central Office. At the National Center for System Operation, in Brasilia, there were 20 visits, with 355 visitors. In the Southeast Regional Operation Center in Rio de Janeiro, there were 29 technical visits, totaling 302 visitors. In Florianópolis, eight technical visits were held in the year and in Recife, three.

There was an increase of the integration and cooperation in carrying out activities, studies and joint projects with CCEE and EPE, as established in the existing Operational Agreements, contributing to the increased efficiency of the Brazilian electricity sector.