Losses caused by electricity theft and fraud continue to directly impact the electricity bills of Brazilians. According to ABRADEE (Brazilian Association of Electric Energy Distributors), so-called non-technical losses added almost 3% to energy tariffs in 2025.
The estimate was presented by Patrícia Audi, president of the association, in an interview with the CNN Brasil program Alta Voltagem.
According to the executive, losses caused by illegal connections, meter tampering, and other irregularities totaled approximately R$ 10 billion last year, affecting 2 million consumers.
According to the executive, this is "energy that distributors have to supply to the consumer but don't receive. Since the cost of this energy is fixed, it needs to be distributed among other consumers," she said.
The numbers reinforce data previously released by ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency) and distributors during a public hearing held in the Chamber of Deputies, as reported by Canal Solar.
At the time, it was reported that Brazilian consumers would spend over R$ 7 billion per year on their electricity bills in 2024 and 2025 to cover part of the costs associated with non-technical losses in the sector.
The loss was estimated at R$ 10,3 billion, of which R$ 7,1 billion was passed on to consumers through tariffs, while R$ 3,3 billion was absorbed by the distributors. An additional R$ 1 billion was not collected by the government in the form of taxes.
Consumers pay over R$7 billion per year to cover energy theft.
In addition to the economic effects, ABRADEE warns of the operational impacts caused by illegal connections and other irregularities practiced in the electricity sector.
Data from the association indicates that approximately 620 power outages recorded in 2025 were related to theft and fraud, affecting more than 2 million consumers nationwide.
According to the organization, the problem also represents a challenge for public safety, since irregular interventions in the electrical grid increase the risks of accidents, fires, and damage to the distribution infrastructure.
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