The sequential use of electric energy and thermal energy from the chemical energy of the same fuel has been studied to improve the cost benefit of a distributed generation. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential market of this technology in the region of influence of the local utility of electric energy.utility company (LIGHT). In order to attain this objective, it was necessary to evaluate the performance of a micro turbine based cogeneration system used for supplying electrical and thermal energy to PUC-RIO´S Gymnasium. The system consists of a microturbine, a heat recovery boiler, and a cold water feeding reservoir. The short duration test results are presented for the evaluation of the cogeneration system performance for the production of electric and thermal energy. The tests were carried on for 100, 75, 50 and 25% micro turbine electric energy generation loads. Time performance of the micro turbine was also studied. Moreover, a methodology was shown to calculate the uncertainty of measurements of several performance parameters. The micoturbine marked potential was estimated by analyzing the consumption of about 8000 clients in January 2003, updating the tariffs to 2007, resulting in 384,5 MW and 20415 MWh/month, considering a minimum internal rate of return of investiment of 15% per year, during a 15 year period. It was concluded that the microturbine cost is still a barrier to its market penetration. Cogeneration can be used to improve the cost benefit of the system.