Colombia's Air-e electricity distributor, serving 1.3 million customers across three departments, has seen its debt more than double since government intervention 20 months ago, reaching $2.1–3.9 trillion. The company loses over half its purchased energy to illegal connections and unpaid bills, while thermal generators supplying 35% of regional power operate at a loss and face imminent refusal to continue generation. The crisis disproportionately affects low-income populations in the Caribbean region, where 85% of users belong to lower income strata.