Power outages are already part of São Paulo’s routine during heavy rains. In the most recent, caused by last week’s windstorms, a quarter (25%) of São Paulo’s properties, or 2.26 million addresses, were left without power, and more than half were still in the dark after 24 hours. More than 400 flights were canceled and losses caused by the paralysis of the country’s largest metropolis were estimated at 1.5 billion reais.
After imposing fines on the Enel concessionaire totaling 345 million reais over the last three years (compared to an average of 15 million reais over the previous four years), the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) demanded explanations for the collapse of the distribution network and recalled that serious failures in the provision of the service could lead to “expiration of the concession”, that is, its cancellation. City Hall also asked for clarification on why so many service vehicles were parked in yards while millions were without power. The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, even spoke of intervention. Enel says it has assigned 1,600 employees to restore power. There are, however, reports that bribes are being demanded to turn the lights back on.
- Sao Paulo: The power outage after the storm puts pressure on Enel, which is in Aneel’s crosshairs in a process that could lead to the end of the concession
It is not news that extreme weather events tend to become more intense and more frequent as a result of global warming. It is up to public managers and private service concessionaires to permanently include this issue on their agenda and to take the necessary measures.
The worst part, as Aneel noted, is that Enel was not taken by surprise. Meteorological institutes and Civil Defense have been warning, since the end of the week, of the formation in the south of the country of an extratropical cyclone capable of causing rain and strong gusts of wind in the South-East. Since the launch of the first weather satellites, storms have been predicted in advance and carefully monitored. Utility licensees, such as energy distributors, have an obligation to monitor this information and act preventively to minimize the risk of power outages.
- A quarter of the city without electricity, thousands without water and canceled flights: How was this day of chaos in São Paulo?
Energy is an essential input. When 25% of a city like São Paulo goes dark, problems multiply and chaos spreads throughout the country. Airports, stores, bars, restaurants and countless businesses are affected. The population is losing income and losing access to essential services, such as hospitals or metropolitan trains. Lack of energy shuts down water pumps, meaning high-rise or remote neighborhoods face supply problems. The succession of difficulties is vast.
Maintaining energy supplies is essential for the population. This is what Enel was not able to achieve. In charge of the São Paulo concession since 2018, the company, which also operates in Rio and Ceará, has proven incapable of improving the distribution network. The situation demands a more forceful attitude from the authorities. The storms are not limited to São Paulo, nor are there widespread power outages in the country’s metropolises.
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