The Paranaense Power Company (Copel) has been fined more than 1 million reais by the Consumer Protection and Defense Program (Procon) in Maringá for not removing loose wires. This penalty comes after the company failed to address 518 requests from Procon in 2025 regarding wire removal and other inspections, many of which were initiated by public complaints. Eleven of these requests were not addressed within the stipulated timeframe, resulting in individual fines of 94,000 reais each.

The violation has serious implications particularly in light of recent accidents involving loose wires. Last October, a female passenger on a motorcycle was injured when her neck became entangled in a loose wire, and in November, a fatal incident occurred when a motorcyclist was struck by overhead wiring close to his workplace. These incidents highlight the potential dangers posed by the failure of Copel to adequately manage its infrastructure and the ongoing risk to public safety.

The company retains the option to appeal the ruling in court, but the consequences of continued negligence could lead to escalating public backlash and increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies. This case underscores the importance of timely responses to consumer safety concerns and may prompt other entities to reassess their compliance with safety regulations to prevent similar fines and potential harm to the public.