Brazil power distributors report 70,000 pole collisions and 3% tariff hike from theft

In 2025 Brazil’s electric utilities recorded 70,000 vehicle‑pole collisions, according to the Brazilian Association of Electricity Distributors (Abradee). The accidents affected more than 15 million customers, causing average power outages of about seven hours. The number of incidents was 10 % higher than the previous survey in 2022, bringing the four‑year total to over 264 000. São Paulo led the list with 40 000 collisions, followed by Paraná, Minas Gerais, Goiás and Santa Catarina.

Abradee also warned that illegal connections – known as “gatos” – raised consumer electricity bills by almost 3 % and generated roughly R$10 billion in losses for the sector. The non‑technical losses, which are distributed across all ratepayers, also triggered nearly 620 000 power interruptions last year, impacting more than 2 million people. The state of Amazonas faces the highest level of theft, while Rio de Janeiro’s Light concession reported losses equal to 70.7 % of low‑voltage residential consumption in 2025. “It’s energy that distributors have to supply but do not get paid for,” said Abradee president‑executive Patrícia Audi.