Brazil has announced details of its plans to cut power consumption by 20 per cent through rationing and stiff fines, in an effort to avoid daily blackouts in the nation's worst-ever energy crisis. The President, Mr Fernando Henrique Cardoso, decided to try quota system first, said Mr Pedro Parente, President of the emergency Cabinet set up to help find a solution to the crisis. Fines for overuse would reach 200 per cent for consumers using more than 500 kW per month, Mr Parente said. Consumers who cut back on their energy use to below 200 KW will get a price cut, he said.