Between 2025 and early 2026, studies conducted by ANEEL, the Ministry of Cities, NTC&Logística, and ABCF brought operational and commercial losses related to digital systems back to the center of corporate debate. The research indicates that measurement fraud, logistical losses, and the illegal market cause billions of reais in annual losses in supply chains.
The identified problem is that these losses are recorded in companies' financial statements under generic headings such as damage, stockouts, accidents, or default, without the digital origin being effectively identified. This hinders the correct sizing of cybersecurity spending.
In the Brazilian electricity sector, so-called non-technical losses, which include clandestine connections, meter tampering, and billing fraud, reached 45 TWh in 2025. This volume represents 7.1% of all energy injected into distribution grids, with an estimated cost of R$ 11.5 billion, according to ANEEL data monitored by the Brazilian Association of Electricity Distribution Companies (ABRADEE).
