Energy theft reported by utilities in Rio de Janeiro and Bahia

Utility companies in Brazil are reporting significant volumes of energy theft and grid irregularities. In Rio de Janeiro, Light identified 3,885 irregularities in September, resulting in the recovery of 5,046 MWh of energy—enough to power approximately 25,000 homes for one month. The company noted that energy theft causes annual losses of approximately R$ 1.3 billion and can lead to grid overloads and increased accident risks.

In Bahia, Neoenergia Coelba identified 23,211 irregularities related to energy theft during the third quarter of 2026. Inspection actions recovered 187.5 GWh of energy, a volume sufficient to supply the city of Feira de Santana for 45 days. Salvador recorded the highest number of fraud occurrences, while Luís Eduardo Magalhães saw the highest volume of recovered energy. The company utilizes monitoring systems and specialized intelligence teams to combat these illegal connections.