Equatorial sets no date to restore power to 6,000 in Brazil

Equatorial Energia unit CEEE Equatorial has not established a definitive deadline to restore electricity in southern Rio Grande do Sul. Continuous blackouts have lasted 10 days following a storm that hit the region with 90 km/h winds on September 21, 2026.

As of October 1, 2026, an estimated 6,000 people remain without electric power across the southern zone of the state. On September 29, 2026, representatives from 18 municipalities held a crisis meeting with CEEE Equatorial in Pelotas, where 700 consumer units were reported without power in the municipality of Rio Grande alone.

The utility faces ongoing regulatory pressure in the state. Rio Grande do Sul regulator AGERGS has applied 182 million Brazilian reais in cumulative fines against CEEE Equatorial since its privatization in 2021. Meanwhile, CEEE Equatorial has invested BRL 237 million in low, medium, and high-voltage networks across five southern municipalities between 2021 and 2026.