Woman Regains Power After 5 Years of Abuse and Energy Cutoff by Ex-Husband

A woman and her autistic son in Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil, have finally had their electricity restored after living without power for five years due to a vengeful act by her ex-husband. Following a domestic violence incident in 2021, the victim sought a protective order, which led to the abuser being removed from the home. In retaliation, he arranged for the electricity to be disconnected, as the service was registered in his name. Although he died a year later, his parents continued to prevent the power from being reconnected, aiming to force the woman to abandon the family home of over 20 years. During this period, the family endured significant hardship, resorting to washing with water heated on the stove and relying on neighbors for refrigeration and charging small electronic devices. A neighbor even provided an extension cord for essential charging needs. The woman described the daily struggle, including enduring summer heat with only open windows and her son sometimes becoming distressed by the lack of electricity. The Public Ministry of Santa Catarina (MPSC) became involved after the case was brought to their attention in May. Initially, judicial requests to restore power were denied due to issues with property and consumer unit ownership. However, the MPSC argued that the prolonged deprivation of electricity constituted ongoing psychological violence and abuse of property rights. On June 18, 2024, a court order finally mandated the restoration of electricity, bringing immense relief to the victim, who described the moment as a blessing and expressed profound happiness at returning to a normal life.