As the first of its kind, the company said the Delabole local tariff was its "blueprint" and would be replicated across the country as it developed more wind farms.

BBC: Delabole wind farm households offered discount tariff

The government lobbied the World Bank, and the bank eventually changed its policy to allow the tariff and protect the local industry.

BBC: IMF policy comes under fire

The Tuesday tariff is yet another measure aimed at protecting local industry following sector-specific tax incentives (like the auto industry) and a more aggressive intervention policy to maintain the foreign exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Brazilian real at weak levels.

FORBES: Weak Economy Pushes Brazil To Protectionism

Collective switching, pioneered in Belgium and the Netherlands, allows groups of customers, often organised by local councils or community groups to choose the best rate by changing tariff at the same time.

BBC: More than 6,000 join Surrey energy switching collective

MCI's dream of offering integrated long-distance, local and Internet access without having to pay the Baby Bells their current tariff of 45 cents out of every dollar of long-distance revenues.

ECONOMIST: WorldCom tucks in��again