According to data from ABRADE (Brazilian Association of Electricity Distributors), the volume of stolen cables in Brazil reached 975 tons in 2025, practically triple the 300 tons recorded in 2024, highlighting the escalation of this type of crime in the country.
In addition to the significant increase in volume, financial losses also grew significantly, rising from R$ 50 million to approximately R$ 90 million in just one year.
The rise in theft also affects consumers and the operation of distributors in different regions, directly impacting the energy supply.
In Ceará, Enel-CE recorded the theft of 201 kilometers of cables throughout 2025, leaving 447 consumers without electricity. In Santa Catarina, the number of incidents almost doubled in two years, jumping from 1.475 cases in 2024 to 2.689 in 2025.
In Rio de Janeiro, Light SA, a company that serves 31 municipalities in the state, estimates losses of R$ 34,5 million in 2025 alone. In January 2026, according to a press release, the concessionaire had stated that it would invest R$ 12 million in replacing 3,4 kilometers of damaged cables.
At the end of July last year, the Federal Government passed a law to toughen the penalties for this type of crime, with imprisonment from 2 to 8 years, in addition to a fine.
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