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After Extratropical Cyclone on December 10 Left 2.2 Million Without Power in São Paulo and Still 417 Thousand Consumers on Saturday, Federal Government Increases Pressure, Threatens Enel’s Concession, Demands Stricter Supervision and Contests Claim of 99% Restored with 1,800 Teams on the Ground and Eroded Trust in São Paulo
On Sunday, December 14, 2025, the Ministry of Mines and Energy raised its tone against the distributor and stated that Enel’s concession in São Paulo could be revoked if the company fails to fully comply with quality standards and contractual obligations set forth in electricity distribution agreements. The ministry put the company under enhanced monitoring after successive service failures.
Since Wednesday, December 10, around 2.2 million customers had been left without power after winds of up to 98 km/h knocked down more than 300 trees, destroying cables and poles, and leaving over 417 thousand consumer units in the dark on Saturday. By order of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, supervision has been intensified, while Enel claims to have restored 99% of the supply on Sunday with a record contingent of 1,800 teams on the ground.
Government Increases Pressure and Puts Enel’s Concession Under Formal Threat
In the official statement released on December 14, the Ministry of Mines and Energy made it clear that the maintenance of Enel’s concession depends on full compliance with continuity and quality targets established by the regulation of the electricity sector.
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The ministry emphasized that the supply of electricity is an essential service and that it will not accept prolonged interruptions without an adequate response.
According to the text, Lula mandated “absolute rigor” in supervising services, which means close monitoring of indicators such as duration and average frequency of interruptions, response times, and robustness of preventive maintenance.
The political message is explicit: if Enel’s concession continues to be associated with blackouts in São Paulo, the possibility of revocation is no longer just a rhetorical threat and enters the regulatory radar.
Extraterrestrial Cyclone Exposes Fragility of the Grid and Scale of the Blackout
The immediate trigger for the reaction was the extratropical cyclone that hit the state on December 10.
According to the data released, about 2.2 million customers were affected at the height of the crisis, a volume that corresponds to a large part of the customer base served by the utility in the metropolitan area.
The winds reached 98 km/h at some points, knocking down more than 300 trees, many of which fell on the distribution network.
The fall of trunks and branches destroyed cables, crossbars, and poles, requiring entire structures to be replaced.
Even so, up until the day before the announcement, there were still over 417 thousand consumers without power, which fueled criticism from residents, local authorities, and the federal government itself regarding the speed of restoration.
Role of Aneel, History of Alerts, and Federal Pressure
The Ministry stated that the head of the department, Alexandre Silveira, has been alerting the National Electric Energy Agency since 2023 about problems involving Enel.
In practice, this means that the discussion about Enel’s concession does not originate with the cyclone, but accumulates from previous episodes of failures and prolonged blackouts in São Paulo.
The statement also mentions the proposal for a meeting with Governor Tarcísio de Freitas and the mayor of the capital, Ricardo Nunes, for “alignment of responsibilities.”
The idea is to clearly define the role of each entity in supervision, enforcement of investments, and response to extreme events.
Enel’s concession thus becomes a topic of coordination among the federal government, state government, city hall, and regulatory agency, in an environment of strong public pressure.
Company’s Version: 99% Restored and 1,800 Teams in Operation
On the so-called “other side,” Enel issued a statement claiming that it has restored service for 99% of customers by this Sunday.
The company states that it mobilized a record number of teams since the morning of Wednesday, reaching 1,800 field teams on the most critical days, and that it continues to work to re-energize the last points still affected.
The company argues that the intensity of the cyclone and the volume of simultaneous damage to the grid justify the restoration time.
From the perspective of public perception, however, the narrative clashes with reports from consumers who were without power for several days.
The dispute becomes not only technical but also one of trust: whether the response after the cyclone reinforces or undermines the perception that Enel’s concession is capable of ensuring energy security in São Paulo.
Real Risk of Losing the Concession and Next Steps in the Enel Case
From a regulatory perspective, revoking Enel’s concession requires a formal process at Aneel, involving analysis of indicators, history of infractions, defense from the company, and possible initiation of a revocation process.
What the government did this Sunday was place Enel’s concession under explicit threat, signaling that new episodes of prolonged blackouts could accelerate harsher measures.
In the coming months, the agency should consolidate data on the duration of interruptions, average restoration time, and compliance with contingency plans related to the December 10 cyclone.
Depending on the outcome, fines, demands for additional investments, adjustment terms, or, in extreme scenarios, the initiation of a process for revocation of Enel’s concession in São Paulo may arise.
In your opinion, after this blackout and the threat of revocation of Enel’s concession, is the most appropriate route to reinforce supervision over the company or to initiate a change of distributor in the state?
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