Prosecutors want Cemig to pay R$200 million in compensation in Minas – State of Minas

The National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) may be required by the Federal Court to carry out in-person inspections at Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (Cemig) to avoid interruption of energy supply.

The Federal (MPF) and Minas Gerais (MPMG) Public Ministries filed a lawsuit demanding measures from the agency and also compensation for collective moral damages against Cemig in the amount of R$200 million.

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The region has been the target of blackouts and frequent interruptions in power supply.

The action also requests that Aneel be determined, on a preliminary basis, to carry out regular inspections at Cemig, taking administrative and punitive actions when necessary. In addition, Aneel must send monthly reports detailing the assessments and measures taken to avoid problems.

The institutions also request the Court that Cemig be obliged to publish and disclose all incidents of fluctuations and blackouts that occurred in the years 2022 and 2023, both in urban and rural areas of all municipalities under the jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Uberlândia.

Furthermore, they ask Cemig to inform 24 hours in advance about possible instabilities in the system, preventing consumers and users from future incidents. In case of non-compliance, the two entities request the imposition of a daily fine of R$ 100 thousand, if the preliminary measures determined are not complied with.

Recurring losses

According to the action, the main problems reported by consumers include fluctuations, blackouts and unjustified interruptions in the supply of electricity in several regions, which are causing losses to the business, rural, industrial, hospital and household sectors.

The consequences of the blackouts and fluctuations in the provision of electricity services in the cities of the Triângulo Mineiro, states the action, included the fall of eight electrical distribution line towers in 2022.

At the time, the energy concessionaire’s delay in restoring service after this incident resulted in significant impacts for the population and affected sectors, leading to the opening of an administrative process by Procon.

CPI

Due to frequent power failures, in 2022 and 2023, the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais filed two public civil actions against Cemig. The Uberlândia City Council also installed a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) to investigate the impacts and losses caused in various sectors of the city, including business, rural, industrial, hospital and residential.

Aneel is co-responsible – The public civil action questions the effectiveness of Aneel’s actions, with the Agency being considered co-responsible for the situation of consumers in Uberlândia. Its responsibility includes monitoring Cemig’s activities, ensuring compliance with quality and efficiency standards in the energy service, and preventing blackouts, fluctuations and delays in reestablishing supply.

Public Prosecutor Cléber Eustáquio Neves, who signed the action for the MPF, said that the objective is to ensure that electricity consumers have an adequate service, free from blackouts and fluctuations. “The responsibility of the parties involved must be determined and we hope that this action will result in significant improvements for the population of Uberlândia”, he stated.

Other side

In a note, Cemig said that “it has not yet been notified of the MPMG and MPF action”, but that it “works for constant improvement of services, seeking to offer quality energy to its consumers. This includes investments exceeding R$1 billion in the Triângulo Mineiro in five years, which made it possible to inaugurate the Uberlândia 8 Substation, among other deliveries to be carried out in the coming months”.

Aneel was contacted for the report, but did not comment on the action.