The dam is named for Sergio Roberto Vieira da Motta, a prominent industrial engineer in São Paulo.

The dam supports hydroelectric power plant on its southern end with an installed capacity of 1,540 megawatts (2,070,000 hp).

Although there are no plans to install them, the power plant has room to accommodate an additional four generators.

[5] Construction on the dam began in 1980 and the first filling of the reservoir to 253 metres (830 ft) above sea level was complete by 1998.

The second filling to 257 metres (843 ft) above sea level was complete in March 2001 and by October 2003, all 14 generators were in operation.