Brazil's Bahia and Mato Grosso Face Electricity Disruptions in 2026

More than 350,000 electricity customers in Bahia experienced outages during the first half of 2026 after 523 traffic collisions damaged distribution poles, according to Neoenergia Coelba. The incidents, a 15 % drop from the same period in 2025, were concentrated in Salvador, Feira de Santana, Vitória da Conquista, Ilhéus and Camaçari. Neoenergia Coelba warned that such accidents pose safety hazards for motorists and pedestrians and can delay repairs pending investigations.

In Mato Grosso, over 150 people were arrested in 2026 for illegal electricity connections after the new law 15.397/2026 raised the maximum penalty for energy theft to six years. Energisa, together with state police, conducted a task‑force operation targeting clandestine hookups in homes, businesses and farms. The crackdown highlighted the heightened risk of electric shocks, fires and grid overloads associated with unauthorized connections, and underscored the role of the stricter legislation in supporting loss‑prevention efforts.