MME asks Enel for strict punishment for lack of energy in São Paulo

A new blackout caused damage to around 35 thousand residents of the capital of São Paulo this Monday (18)
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MME pede punição rigorosa à Enel após novo apagão em São Paulo
In some regions, power supply lasted for more than 24 hours. Photo: Freepik

O MME (Ministry of Mines and Energy) called the president of Enel-SP to go to Pasta’s headquarters, in Brasília (DF), to provide clarification on a new blackout that occurred in the city of São Paulo this Monday (18).

O incident caused losses for around 35 thousand residents, affecting hospitals, commerce and other activities. In some regions, power supply lasts for more than 24 hours.

O Ministry reported that it also sent a letter to ANEEL asking that there is a “quick and rigid investigation of the facts” occurred this week, as well as “rigorous accountability and punishment of the concessionaire”.

According to the Folder, The Enel-SP has “repeatedly” presented problems in the quality of service provision with residents of the capital of São Paulo and cities in the metropolitan region. 

“The interruption this Monday adds to several other failures in the provision of electricity services by the concessionaire ENEL-SP, which has demonstrated an inability to provide quality services to the population,” said the MME, in a statement sent to the press . 

In the document, the Ministry emphasizes that the ENEL concessionaire has obligations established in its contract concession, must maintain quality levels in customer service and provide means to regularize supply in case of failures, within appropriate standards, for a public service essential to people's lives.

“It is urgent to prove that the company is capable of continuing to operate in its concessions in Brazil,” wrote the MME. 

Recurring problems

The blackout recorded this week was just another recent case of energy supply problems involving Enel-SP. This year alone, there were several blackouts recorded in the capital of São Paulo and neighboring cities.

On January 8, storms left residents without access to power for more than 17 hours in several neighborhoods. The same problem also occurred on February 13th.

Three days later, on February 16, a occurrence at a substation affected 16 neighborhoods in the capital of São Paulo, disrupting the circulation of transport: there were more than 270 km of roads slowed down due to switched off traffic lights and some Metro lines were impacted.

However, the most serious case occurred on November 3, 2023, when a blackout left more than 2.1 million consumers without electricity in São Paulo and in cities in the metropolitan region.

Many of them spent more than a week without access to electricity and the case resulted in a fine of more than R$ 165 million to the concessionaire by ANEEL.


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Picture of Henrique Hein
Henry Hein
He worked at Correio Popular and Rádio Trianon. He has experience in podcast production, radio programs, interviews and reporting. Has been following the solar sector since 2020.

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