File:Diego Costa - Solar power versus electricity theft in Brazilian favelas.pdf

English: Energy theft is a serious problem for most of utility companies, especially in developed

countries causing huge financial losses. In favelas (slums), the illegal connections are not an exception but a rule. Corruption, socio-economic conditions and lack of technological investments are the main reasons pointed for this issue. The lack of government actions and the presence of drug traffic make it difficult for the local distributor company acts to tackle the problem. In order to diminish the theft rates, and to provide clean and safe access to energy for those communities this study assess the potential of solar power and its related technologies. This paper looks into the many ways that solar energy can contribute to alleviate energy poverty in poor areas. To conclude, the main solar solutions in the market are economically assessed, as well business models to provide a different way to approach the electricity theft problem, and contribute to the inclusiveness of slums communities into society and help the utility company to

sustainably secure their revenues.