Energy theft, known as non -technical electricity losses in Brazil, represented a cost of R $ 10.3 billion in 2024, according to a report by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel). 
Known as “cat”, energy theft occurs in the low voltage market, which consists of residential consumers, small trades, offices and small industries. This energy theft also generates consumption without control of the distributed load. Numerous devices, technically precarious, are connected to this stolen load, which causes damage to the system and impairs the service to other consumers.
Large concessionaires, which have the market greater than 700 GWh (Gigawatt-Hora), are responsible for managing the levels of these commercial losses, due to the amplitude of the distribution market and the complexity of combating irregular practices.
The Brazilian Association of Electricity Distributors (Abradee) details the complexity and challenges imposed by this practice, considered a crime, in the study “Energy Theft: Non -Technical Losses”, which has just been released. The material explains how theft costs impact the energy rate of all regular consumers.
The Brazilian electrical system treats daily with energy losses. Part of these losses is technical, inherent in the transport and transformation of electricity. Another part refers to the origin of irregular connections, fraud and measuring or revenue errors, which have grown and reached 16.02% of the low voltage market by 2024.
In addition to the financial impact on the electricity bill of consumers, this practice generates without control, and may overload the system, cause damage to the infrastructure and impair the quality of service to other consumers.
According to Aneel, in 2024, interruptions in the supply for power theft totaled 88,870 – each of them with an average duration of 8.64 hours.
The safety of the population is also compromised: by 2024, 45 people lost their lives and 69 were injured in theft -related accidents or clandestine connections, according to Abradee survey.
“Fighting energy theft is a collective responsibility. More than financial damage, clandestine bonds, put lives at risk, overload the electrical system and penalize the regular consumer with higher rates. We need integrated public policies, population awareness and reinforce inspection to ensure a safe and sustainable supply for all Brazilians. Tucuruí, in Tocantins, the second largest in the country, ”explained Abradee president Marcos Madureira.
The Association and its Distributors actively operate in the fight against theft, with initiatives such as the National Security Campaign, which focuses on accident prevention and awareness. Companies have sought to identify and curb thefts with the use of technology, including more resistant equipment and artificial intelligence.
