Cable theft has doubled, and Rincón compares it to the timber case: "Until it was confronted (...) there was no change."

A rising criminal phenomenon is the theft of electrical cables, which affects more and more residents of the country every day. Last year, this type of incident impacted 614,031 people, a 12% increase compared to the 548,781 consumers affected the previous year, according to figures from the association of distribution companies, Empresas Eléctricas. The number of reported theft cases grew by 116% in one year, from 1,823 recorded in 2024 to 3,945 thefts counted last year.

This means that the crimes more than doubled. At the same time, the kilometers of stolen lines increased by 37% to 855 km in 2025, equivalent to the distance between Santiago and Valdivia. Due to the rise in thefts, complaints from associated companies also increased, rising from 543 in 2024 to 1,151 in 2025, a 112% increase.

When consulted by El Mercurio, Energy Minister Ximena Rincón stated that this issue will be one of the major challenges for her department. "If we do not address it as we did with the theft of wood, it will continue to be a problem," she asserted. This has been requested by the electrical sector.

"It is essential to advance in more effective coordination between authorities, police, the prosecution, and the private sector. Consider a special legal statute, similar to the one that currently exists for the theft of wood, that allows for strengthening sanctions and their prosecution," stated Juan Meriches, executive director of Empresas Eléctricas AG.