Copel invests R$ 846 million in Paraná despite ongoing power outages

Copel, the energy utility in Paraná, has invested R$ 846.7 million over the last three years to mitigate power outages caused by extreme weather events. These funds have been directed toward preventive maintenance, vegetation management, and network protection. Specific actions include 860,000 tree pruning operations, 66 million square meters of rural mowing, and over 20,000 preventive maintenance interventions.

Despite these investments, residents in regions such as Francisco Beltrão and other areas in Southwest Paraná continue to report frequent power interruptions. During severe storms on October 3 and 4, approximately 325,000 consumer units in the state experienced simultaneous outages. While Copel attributes these disruptions to severe weather conditions like heavy rain and strong winds, the recurring nature of the outages has led to public questioning regarding the effectiveness of the infrastructure investments and the speed of service restoration.

To address these issues, Copel has conducted 730 maintenance drives in partnership with local municipalities and Civil Defense, and has signed 81 technical cooperation agreements to manage vegetation near distribution lines. The company is also expanding automated systems to accelerate power restoration following external events.