Teaspoon for Light

Fernando Porfírio_247 - The Justice system and the Public Prosecutor's Office gave Light a break. The fine of R$ 100 for each manhole explosion, agreed at the beginning of the month, will only take effect after the publication of the sentence that approved the company's agreement with the Public Prosecutor's Office. The decision of Judge Mauro Pereira Martins, of the 4th Business Court of the city of Rio de Janeiro, should be published this Tuesday (19).

“A thorough examination of the terms of the agreement reveals that its approval is in the interest of the community, since it allows for a swift resolution of the disputed issue. Furthermore, it is necessary to acknowledge that both parties have made efforts to resolve the matter,” the judge stated in the decision.

The Public Prosecutor's Office stated that it opened a civil inquiry to investigate the causes of the constant manhole explosions in underground electricity and piped gas installations. According to the prosecutor's office, the explosions have been occurring due to a lack of maintenance of the installations, which are the responsibility of Light and CEG (Gas Company).

The Public Prosecutor's Office requested the conviction of Light and CEG. Both companies are obligated to carry out preventative maintenance and adopt standards capable of anticipating potential failures in the underground network equipment and circuits, or gas leaks. The Public Prosecutor's Office also requests the replacement of installations that have been in operation for more than 50 years, under penalty of a fine. The agreement was signed on the 6th and stipulated a fine of R$ 100 for each manhole explosion.