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Practical Rule Regarding Power Cut Defines That The Distributor Cannot Interrupt Supply For Overdue Invoice Older Than 90 Days, Although It Can Negatively Impact The Customer And Sue; For Recent Bills, Suspension Is Only Allowed After Notification And A Minimum Period Of 15 Days, With Reconnection Conditioned On Settlement Of Overdue Debts.
The debate over power cuts usually arises when the bill is delayed and the consumer fears disruption of service. The rule is objective: if the debt is more than 90 days overdue, the distributor cannot use this old bill as a reason to turn off the electricity. In these cases, the company can negatively impact the CPF in credit registries and file for collection, but the supply cannot be suspended for this specific debt.
For recent bills, the procedure is different. According to the specialist Frankner Carrijo, suspension can only occur after formal notification of the delay and respecting a minimum period of 15 days from that communication. Without valid notice and without the deadline, the cut is considered improper. Understanding who can be affected, how long the distributor must wait, where this practice applies, and why the rule exists helps avoid misinterpretation and protects the continuity of service.
What Changes With The 90-Day Rule
The 90-day rule acts as a limitation for power cuts due to old bills. If the overdue bill exceeds 90 days, it cannot serve as a basis for the suspension of supply. The goal is to avoid disconnections due to remote debts, which could surprise the consumer a long time after the due date.
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This does not nullify the debt. The distributor retains the right to collect, including negatively impacting credit bureaus and legal action. What changes is the pressure tactic: for old debts, cutting off service is not allowed. For new debts, provided the notification and deadline requirements are met, the cut can occur.
How Notification And The 15-Day Period Work
For recent bills, the company must notify the consumer of the delay and wait 15 days before any power cut. Without notification and without respecting the deadline, the suspension is irregular. The communication is an essential part of due process, as it gives the customer a chance to settle up.
The notification occurs in two usual ways: a letter informing about the open bill or a notice on the following bill highlighting that the previous account was not paid and that, after 15 days, suspension may occur. Since the next bill arrives before the due date and sometimes after that date, it is common that, when the customer notices the warning, the deadline has already begun or has even passed, which explains cuts immediately after valid notification.
When Power Cut Is Allowed
Power cut is permitted when there is a recent debt, proven notification, and 15 days have elapsed since the notice. All three elements need to be present. Without any of them, the disconnection lacks support. Therefore, keeping invoices, letters, and receipts is crucial to demonstrate compliance or non-compliance with deadlines.
In situations of multiple delays, the company usually organizes the collection and acts on current debts that have not exceeded 90 days, as long as the notification is correct. Pay attention to the dates: what authorizes the cut is the recent bill that has been properly notified, not the old bill.
Reconnection And Clearing Debts
After disconnection, reconnection generally requires the settlement of all overdue debts. Paying only the bill that triggered the cut may not suffice, if there are other overdue bills. The distributor is only obligated to reconnect when there is complete regularization of what is outstanding, following applicable commercial practices.
In practice, this means planning the settlement and keeping the receipt. Once regularization is proven, the customer can request reconnection and monitor the ordinary operational deadlines of the company. The quicker the proof is sent, the shorter the wait time for restoration.
Who Is Affected, How Long It Takes, And Why The Rule Exists
The rule applies to consumer units served by distributors in the country, with emphasis on supply relationships governed by sector regulation. Residential consumers and small businesses feel the impact more frequently, as any delay affects the household cash flow or the business.
The 15-day deadline aims to establish balance between continuity of essential service and incentive for compliance. The 90-day limit prevents disproportionate surprises to the consumer due to old debts, preserving predictability and transparency in the contractual relationship. The focus is to provide predictability for both parties, reducing conflicts and improper disconnections.
Always check the messages on the bill and keep collection letters. If there is a delay notice, count 15 days from the notification to understand when the cut may occur. Regularize within the timeframe whenever possible to avoid suspension.
In case of old debt that is more than 90 days, negotiate the settlement, but know that the cut cannot occur due to this specific debt. If the supply was interrupted, organize the settlement of all delays and send the proof to accelerate reconnection.
The logic is clear: for invoices overdue for more than 90 days, there is no power cut for this reason. For recent invoices, service can only be cut after valid notification and after 15 days. Reconnection depends on the full settlement of what is overdue. With information, organization of receipts and attention to deadlines, the consumer reduces risks and avoids improper disconnections.
In your case, did the notification arrive by letter or on the next bill? Have you experienced a cut after 15 days of notice or faced collection for a debt over 90 days? Share how the reconnection process went and tell what measures helped resolve the situation with your distributor.
En mi caso fue la primera factura de agosto 2025, la presentaron a una cuenta equivocada y la devolvió el banco, me la reclamaron por teléfono y yo les dije que volvieran a presentarla al banco correcto y me indicaron que no podía ser que tenía que ser a través de tarjeta, yo les dije que no tengo tarjeta de crédito que si podía hacerle una transferencia a la cuenta que me indicaran, y no me dieron esa opción solo tarjeta de crédito, yo les comenté que son ellos los que tenían que darme la solución, y en esas estamos, ahora recibo un correo de que el día 4 de enero 2026 me pueden cortar, espero que me digáis algún consejo, gracias