Enel Rio vehicle collisions affect 60,000 customers

Vehicle collisions with utility poles impacted nearly 60,000 customers in Rio de Janeiro during the third quarter of this year. According to the distributor Enel Rio, there were 92 recorded occurrences across 66 municipalities between July and September, averaging approximately one collision per day.

From January to September, the total number of collisions reached nearly 280, affecting approximately 120,000 customers. The municipalities of Campos dos Goytacazes, Macaé, Cantagalo, Niterói, and Maricá recorded the highest number of collisions, accounting for 20% of the quarterly total. In terms of customer impact, Niterói, Maricá, Petrópolis, São Gonçalo, and Araruama led the list, with nearly 50,000 consumer units losing power due to these accidents.

Repairing or replacing a damaged pole is a complex process that takes an average of eight hours, though more severe cases may take longer if forensic investigations are required. Enel Rio stated that operational costs resulting from these accidents are passed on to the sector.