A period of relaxation and celebration, Carnival requires attention to preventing accidents with the electricity grid, warns the president of the Brazilian Association of Electricity Distributors (Abradee), Marcos Madureira, in an interview with Brazil Agency. 
Abradee highlights that, in the first quarter of last year, 176 accidents involving the network were recorded in the country, and Carnival is a period in which there may be carelessness and an increased risk of incidents of this type.
Among the accidents recorded between January and March 2025 in the country, 65 resulted in deaths. In the same period of 2024, there were 177 accidents, with 81 deaths.
Madureira assessed that the drop in the number of deaths observed in the comparison between the first quarter of 2025 and 2024 is a good sign, “but it is not a sign of satisfaction. There are still fatal accidents. We have to aim for zero accidents”, he concluded.
Risk factors
According to the president of Abradee, the data reinforces the need for continuous prevention and awareness actions among people, especially during periods of popular festivals, summer rains and informal activities in urban areas.
Risk factors include the contact of metal coils with wires, clandestine connections and the proximity of metal structures to the power grid.which significantly increase the risk of shocks, short circuits, fire and fatal accidents.
In the case of metallic coils, Marcos Madureira recalled that they conduct electrical energy and, when in contact with the electrical grid, they can establish a connection element between the people who are launching, those who are close to the location and the electrical grid.
“These are important precautions that must be taken to ensure safety.”
When installing bleachers, support structures or tents, for example, Madureira said that distributors must be contacted to make the connections correctly. Bare, broken or not properly grounded wires can pose risks to people.
“The distributors provide teams precisely so that these connections can be made properly. Often, people make compromises that put the population at risk.”
In relation to floats and electric trios, which tend to be increasingly taller, the concern is that they do not come close to the electricity grid. In this case, Marcos Madureira indicated the need for prior work to be done with the Fire Department and the distributor.
“This is fundamental, because it allows the network to be raised, creating safe conditions for the passage of vehicles, within the pre-established height limit”.
Another relevant point, he adds, is the inadequate public traffic in cars where the musicians who host the parties are located, which increases the risks.
“Playing Carnival safely means keeping away from the wires and always counting on the technical guidance of the distributors”.
Campaign
Next June, Abradee will launch the National Electric Grid Safety Campaign, which takes place every year.
The initiative aims to expand the reach of preventive information, guide the population on safe behavior and reinforce that living with electricity requires permanent attention.
During the launch of the campaign, the entity will release consolidated data on accidents with the electricity grid for the year 2025.
“We try to identify the main accidents affecting the population and make the campaign focus on these causes.”
