Non-technical energy losses – caused by theft, fraud, measurement or billing errors – generated an estimated cost of R$10,3 billion to the Brazilian electricity sector in 2024, according to data released this week by ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency).
The report reveals that just 10 distributors ed for 74% of these losses, with emphasis on Light (RJ) and Amazonas Energia (AM), which together for 34,1% of the total volume of non-technical losses in the country.
According to the Agency, these losses, commonly known as “gatos”, are mainly recorded in the low-voltage market, where monitoring is more challenging and the social impact is more sensitive. The study indicates that large-scale concessionaires, with a market of over 700 GWh, are responsible for most of the incidents, not only because they serve large metropolitan regions, but also due to operational complexity and safety and monitoring challenges.
Unlike what happens with other distributor performance indicators, the ANEEL does not apply direct penalties if regulatory loss rates are not met. Instead, the Agency sets reference limits for non-technical losses, which act as an economic signal: if the company manages to reduce them below the set value, it is entitled to additional revenue gains; if it exceeds the limit, it bears the losses.
This methodology is part of the effort of ANEEL to encourage efficiency through incentive regulation, avoiding direct interference in the operational actions of the concessionaires. “It is up to the distributor to define, based on its knowledge of the territory and networks, the best strategies to combat theft, always respecting the rules of the sector”, states the report.
In addition to non-technical losses, the electricity sector also faces technical losses – those that are unavoidable, caused by the dissipation of energy in the transmission and transformation of the electricity grid. Although they are natural in any system, ANEEL recognizes in the tariffs only the levels considered efficient, taking into the particularities of each concession area.
In 2024, the cost of technical losses totaled approximately R$11,2 billion, while technical losses in the Basic Network (transmission) generated an additional cost of R$1,5 billion. The regulatory percentages of these losses, applied to the injected energy, are different among the 51 distributors analyzed and are publicly available on the agency's portal.
A ANEEL keeps available to the public, on its website, the detailed history of non-technical and technical losses since 2012. The information includes annual data by concessionaire, separated by market (low voltage and injected energy), as well as the amounts effectively recognized in the tariff processes.
The goal is to provide transparency on the economic impact of losses and allow consumers, companies and industry players to access information to better understand the formation of energy tariffs in the country. Access the full report clicking here.
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