[en] One of the most important challenges for third world countries is to increase overall efficiency in order to reduce the costs of development. To this end, management of energy is fundamental if the need for heavy investment is to be reduced, above all investment in electricity. In Brazil, moreover, environmental effects in Amazonia are directly related to the provision of electricity. This article presents the energy conservation work realized thus far in Sao Paulo, the most heavily populated and industrialized state in Brazil, along with the principal results obtained. (author). 1 tab