Ricardo Nunes, the mayor of São Paulo, publicly rebuked the CEO of Enel, Flavio Cattaneo, following his controversial statement suggesting that not even Jesus Christ could prevent power outages caused by urban tree issues in the metropolitan area. Nunes emphasized his disagreement with Cattaneo's assessment, asserting that the company's ongoing struggles with power outages stem from inefficiencies rather than environmental factors. Asserting that more than 80% of affected areas had not experienced any tree falls, the mayor aimed to highlight the inadequacy of the energy service provided by Enel.

Nunes's remarks reflect growing frustration within the local government towards the performance of Enel, a company that has faced criticism for its service reliability in the region. The mayor described Cattaneo's comments as both brazen and dismissive, denouncing the perceived incompetence and dishonesty of the company's operations. His comments come in response to recent instances of significant power outages in the area, prompting a more serious examination of Enel's accountability and readiness in addressing public energy needs.

This confrontation between local leadership and Enel’s management underscores the ongoing tensions regarding infrastructure and service accountability in urban settings. As municipalities grapple with the complexities of energy distribution and storm preparedness, Nunes’s outspokenness serves as a reminder of the critical dialogue needed between public officials and utility providers to ensure reliable service for citizens. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of Enel’s governance in managing urban energy challenges, calling for a reevaluation of their operational strategies to prevent further incidents.