The 3rd major power outage in 3 years struck 13 states...after 4 transmission lines failed...allowing only partial electrical service.
An estimated 200,000 households in Sao Paulo and 325,000 in Rio were affected.
In all, 10 states in the South and south-eastern regions... and 3 in the North and Midwest were hit.
Critics continue to point out the nation's unreliable power grid...and question Brasil's readiness to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
AND: Popular former President Lula da Silva removed himself from widespread speculation over a return run for office in 2014...after he declared at his party's congress...that current President Dilma Rousseff will govern...for a full 8 years.
