Brazil sees surge in cable theft and illegal pole wiring removal

In Poços de Caldas, more than 230 streetlight posts were vandalized and about 10,000 metres of cables were stolen over two weeks, affecting public squares, sports fields and major avenues. The municipality’s electric utility, DME Energética, reported that repairs are underway but the scale of the damage requires extensive resource allocation, according to director Nivaldo Morais.

Across Brazil, electricity distributors removed over 2,000 tonnes of irregularly installed cables from poles in 2025, more than double the amount taken out the previous year. The effort is part of a broader campaign to curb visual pollution, improve safety and protect the integrity of the power grid that serves 99.8% of households. Patricia Audi, president‑executive of Abradee, highlighted the role of notifications, municipal partnerships and new regulations in addressing the widespread problem of unauthorized cabling on utility poles.