Companhia de Águas e Esgotos do Rio Grande do Norte

What Companhia de Águas e Esgotos do Rio Grande do Norte does

Companhia de Águas e Esgotos do Rio Grande do Norte (CAERN) is a state-owned water and sanitation utility headquartered in Natal, Brazil, founded in 1969 under Law 3.742 to provide potable water supply and sanitary sewage services across municipalities in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The company operates under a regulated concession model as a mixed-economy company (Sociedade de Economia Mista) controlled by the Government of Rio Grande do Norte, with tariffs set by the agencies ARSBAN (Natal), ARSEP, and AGRM (Mossoró). CAERN serves residential, commercial, and industrial customers across the state, with geographic operations organized into microregions (MRAE Central-Oeste and Litoral-Seridó) under Complementary Law 682/2021, and a major PPP initiative extending sewage sanitization coverage to 48 municipalities by 2033 with R$3.8 billion in planned investment.

CAERN's core technology and infrastructure spans water capture, treatment, storage, and distribution networks, plus sewage collection and treatment facilities including the ETE DIN and ETE Jaguaribe plants. Operational technology includes the proprietary GSANAS system for real-time field-activity monitoring, a pressure monitoring network deployed across 34 cities, and the Água Justa loss-reduction program implemented in 11 cities. Multi-channel customer service combines physical offices, an online Agência Virtual portal, the Caern Mobile app (iOS/Android), the toll-free hotline 115, and the itinerant Caern Móvel units. Following Law 11.695/2024, CAERN's legal mandate now also covers solid waste removal, urban drainage, and environmental protection services — extending the vertical scope of its concession.

The business model is a regulated subscription/utility model with monthly billing for water, sewage, and (now authorized) solid waste services to household, commercial, and industrial customers. Revenue accrues from regulated recurring tariffs adjusted annually by state agencies (3.79% in April 2026, 6.00% in 2025, 3.59% in 2024). Customer segments are vertically diverse — residential households, commercial/industrial entities, municipal governments, and regional consortia — with access primarily through geographic concession rather than active sales. CAERN holds an A+(bra) credit rating from Fitch (Stable outlook, affirmed October 17, 2025) and sources over 70% of its electricity from renewables via the Free Energy Market. The company is governed by a Board of Directors, Executive Board, and Supervisory Board that includes federal, municipal, employee, and independent members.

Name

Companhia de Águas e Esgotos do Rio Grande do Norte

Legal name

Companhia de Águas e Esgotos do Rio Grande do Norte

Website

https://caern.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Companhia de Águas e Esgotos do Rio Grande do Norte (CAERN) is a state-owned regulated water and sanitation utility serving residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers across municipalities in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, with a 2024-expanded mandate that now includes solid waste services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Natal

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Water Supply Services: Revenue generated from providing potable water distribution services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across municipalities in Rio Grande do Norte. Services include water treatment, distribution, reservoir maintenance, and network infrastructure operation. Tariffs are regulated by ARSBAN, ARSEP, and AGRM agencies with periodic adjustments.
2. Sanitary Sewage Services: Revenue from sewage collection, transport, treatment, and appropriate final disposal services. The company manages wastewater treatment systems including ETE DIN and ETE Jaguaribe facilities.
3. Solid Waste Services: New revenue stream authorized under Law 11.695/2024, enabling CAERN to provide domestic and industrial solid waste removal and disposal services, urban drainage, and environmental protection services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CAERN is a state-owned mixed economy company providing regulated water supply (capture, treatment, storage, distribution) and sanitary sewage (collection, transport, treatment, disposal) services across municipalities in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Under Lei 11.695/2024 the company has been legally authorized to also operate in solid waste removal, urban drainage, and environmental protection. Services are billed via regulated tariffs published in the official price table and delivered through physical offices, the Agência Virtual portal, the Caern Mobile app, the Caern Móvel itinerant units, and the 115 hotline.

Product overview

Companhia de Águas e Esgotos do Rio Grande do Norte (CAERN) operates as a state-owned water and sanitation utility providing three core services: potable water supply, sanitary sewage collection and treatment, and solid waste management. The company serves municipalities across Rio Grande do Norte with a network of digital and physical service channels including the Agência Virtual (online self-service portal), Caern Móvel (mobile service units), and a virtual assistant (CAREN). Operational efficiency programs like the Água Justa initiative focus on loss reduction and network optimization. A major public-private partnership project aims to expand sewage sanitization coverage to 48 municipalities with R$ 3.8 billion in investments through 2033.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Abastecimento de \u00c1gua Pot\u00e1vel
• Esgotamento Sanit\u00e1rio Sanitary sewage collection, transport, treatment, and proper final disposal service for domestic and industrial wastewater managed through facilities such as ETE DIN and ETE Jaguaribe.
• Res\u00edduos S\u00f3lidos Solid waste removal and disposal service for domestic and industrial waste, urban stormwater drainage, and environmental protection services, authorized under Lei 11.695/2024.
• Ag\u00eancia Virtual Online self-service portal that lets customers access bills, issue second copies, update registration, request services, and manage accounts digitally.
• Caern Mobile (App) Mobile application available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store enabling customers to manage their accounts and access CAERN services via iOS and Android devices.
• Caern M\u00f3vel Mobile service units that travel to different municipalities offering face-to-face services such as title transfers, second bill issuance, cadastral updates, debt negotiation, and reconnection. Has performed over 40,000 attendances statewide.
• Ouvidoria Ombudsman service handling complaints, information requests, criticism, and denunciations from customers who have not received satisfactory resolution through standard channels.
• Assistente Virtual (CAREN) Virtual assistant chatbot providing automated customer service and inquiries via the CAREN web platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of electricity sourced from renewable energy via Free Energy Market
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Electric ConsultoriaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Electric Consultoria issued a certificate recognizing CAERN's commitment to a cleaner and more sustainable energy matrix. The company manages electricity contracts for CAERN's use of energy from the Free Energy Market, with over 70% sourced from renewable and sustainable sources.
• Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAERN supports the 'Arboriza Natal' project by UFRN, which promotes urban afforestation in Natal through seedling distribution. This partnership demonstrates CAERN's commitment to environmental sustainability and urban green initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sanepar: Sanepar is the Paraná state sanitation company providing water supply and sewage collection/treatment services. It is comparable to CAERN as a Brazilian state-linked utility delivering regulated water and wastewater services to households, businesses, and municipalities.
• COPASA: COPASA is the Minas Gerais sanitation company operating water supply and sewage services. It is comparable to CAERN as a state-level Brazilian utility with water distribution, wastewater operations, and regulated tariff dynamics.
• Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo (Sabesp): Sabesp is a major Brazilian water and sanitation utility providing water supply and sewage services under concession-style arrangements. It is highly comparable to CAERN because both operate regulated water and wastewater infrastructure serving municipal and residential/commercial customers in Brazil.

Direct peers

• Águas do Brasil: Águas do Brasil is a private Brazilian group operating water and sewage concessions in multiple municipalities. It is comparable to CAERN because both deliver regulated municipal water and sanitation services, although Águas do Brasil is a private concession operator rather than a state-owned utility.
• Aegea Saneamento: Aegea is a large private Brazilian sanitation operator focused on water supply and sewage concessions and PPPs. It is comparable because CAERN also operates regulated water and wastewater services and is pursuing a major sanitation PPP across municipalities.
• BRK Ambiental: BRK Ambiental operates water and sewage concessions and PPPs across Brazil. It is comparable to CAERN through its focus on municipal sanitation infrastructure, wastewater treatment, and regulated utility service delivery.
• Iguá Saneamento: Iguá Saneamento is a Brazilian water and wastewater utility operator with concession-based operations. It is comparable because both companies serve municipal customers and rely on long-term regulated sanitation infrastructure.

Regional players

• Cagece: Cagece is Ceará's water and sewage utility serving municipal and residential/commercial customers. It is comparable to CAERN as a neighboring Northeastern Brazil sanitation company with similar public-utility and infrastructure characteristics.
• Embasa: Embasa is Bahia's state water and sanitation company, serving municipalities with water supply and sewage services. It is comparable to CAERN because both are Northeastern Brazilian state utilities focused on regulated sanitation services.
• Compesa: Compesa is Pernambuco's state sanitation company providing water and sewage services. It is comparable because both are state-linked Northeastern Brazilian utilities operating essential water and wastewater infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/caern115
• Instagraminstagram.com/caern115
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caern

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Companhia de Águas e Esgotos do Rio Grande do Norte