This paper proposes a simple approach to treat an as yet undiscussed problem: reactive power excess charging in electrical consumer units that install PV generators under the energy compensation system in Brazil. Under ANEEL regulation RN 482/2012, about mini and micro distributed generation, the installation of PV generators will be allowed to offset electricity consumption. This will cause the power factor of the consumer unit to fall, permitting utilities to charge for a reactive power excess, lessening the economic attractiveness of PV systems. This charge will discourage measures to bring higher quality to these systems, such as changing the power factor to reduce the increase in voltage at the point of common coupling caused by the energy's feeding into the grid. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.