CEEE Equatorial ordered to pay compensation for 2023 cyclone power outages

A court in Rio Grande do Sul has ordered CEEE-D and Equatorial Energia S.A. to pay R$ 5,000 in moral damages to individual consumers who experienced prolonged power outages following a cyclone in July 2023.

The ruling applies to residents in Pelotas, Capão do Leão, Morro Redondo, Arroio do Padre, and Turuçu who were without electricity for more than 24 hours in urban areas or more than 48 hours in rural areas. The judge determined that while the storm was intense, the excessive delay in restoring service was caused by operational failures, including insufficient teams and material shortages.

In addition to individual compensation, the companies were ordered to pay R$ 3 million in collective moral damages to the Fund for the Reconstitution of Damaged Assets. The decision, issued by Judge Marcelo Malizia Cabral, remains subject to appeal.