Capelastegui, CEO of the company, and Leonardo Gadelha, CFO of the company. I will now give the floor to Mr. Eduardo Capelastegui.
Thank you very much, operator. Good morning, everyone. I would like to thank all of you for joining us for our fourth quarter and annual earnings release for 2025. I'm Eduardo Capelastegui, CEO of Neoenergia. Once again, we're very proud of what we'll be sharing today with you. Here with me are Solange Ribeiro, Regulatory and Sustainability VP, Leonardo Gadelha, CFO, Giancarlo Souza, COO, Juliano Pansanato, Equity Control and Planning Officer, and Renato Rocha, IR Officer. I will make a brief presentation going through the highlights of the period, and after that, Leonardo will present the results in more detail. We will then move on to the Q&A session, and I will conclude with the closing remarks.
I will begin by talking about injected energy, distributed generation. We had a very good performance in the concession areas, with a 2.2% growth in the last quarter over the fourth quarter of 2024, and 2.6% in the annual comparison. In operating expenses are very much under control. In the fourth quarter, we reached 7% below the fourth Q, 2024. I should point out the one-off, non-recurring contribution of the sale of the, head office of Neoenergia Pernambuco, which had a positive impact, with BRL 64 million in contribution. Without this effect, our expenses would have remained 1% below the fourth quarter of 2024. Over the year, BRL 4.3 billion in expenses, only 1% above 2024, which once again confirms our discipline of operating expenses.
Cash EBITDA ratio reached in the quarter BRL 3.2 billion, with 14% growth over the quarter, which is explained mainly... Well, firstly, by the growth in the distribution market. Secondly, by the excellent tariff review of Neoenergia Pernambuco, and also the tariff reviews in the fourth distribution concessions. Also explained by the control of operating expenses, as mentioned. And lastly, with the operations, new operations of BRL 1 billion in RAP in transmission lines over 2025. Over the year, cash EBITDA reached 11.4 billion BRL, 8% above 2024. I would also point out the excellent performance of this business. Net income amounted to BRL 1.5 billion in the past quarter, 73% higher than that of the fourth Q in 2024, driven by the higher EBITDA.
Over the year, we reached a net income of BRL 5 billion, a historic record for Neoenergia, 38% above the net income in 2024. We reached BRL 10.1 billion, also a record number for Neoenergia, a record achievement. And our net remuneration reached BRL 44 million in the distributors, and the transmission net base reached somewhere close to BRL 20 billion, amounting to net assets in network of BRL 64 billion at the end of 2025. We're very proud to say that we ended 2025 with the investment cycle in transmissions, as announced in the previous quarters of 2025, which has produced an annual revenue higher than BRL 2 million annually. In terms of asset rotation, 2025 was a very good year, with excellent added value operations.
I would point out the divestment in the Dardanelos and Baixo Iguaçu hydropower plants, as well as the 50% sale of the transmission line of Itabapoana to our partner, GIC, and also higher stake in the Corumbá power plant through auction, now holding 76% of the asset. Therefore, these operations have allowed for Neoenergia to allocate resources to assets that have more appeal in terms of returns and to add more value to our shareholders. As mentioned before, we've achieved excellent results with the ABRADEE Award in 2025. Neoenergia won eight out of the 12 awards. Neoenergia Coelba was elected the best, number one distributor in Brazil, the best distributor in the northeast, and also receiving honorable mentions.
In São Paulo, Elektro was elected the best distributor in the southeast, the best distributor in management quality, the best distributor in terms of innovation and operational management. Lastly, Energia Brasília was number one in the category, well, evolving performance, once again, confirming our improvements in the distributor that was acquired in 2025. These awards confirm our position as the energy and the operation of concessions throughout the country through quality services provided to over 40 million Brazilians. Last but not least, I should also mention the robust, the trust in our regulatory framework, once again, confirming the success we had with the anticipation of the with the early renewal of concessions with Neoenergia Coelba, Neoenergia Pernambuco, Neoenergia Elektro, Neoenergia Cosern. Neoenergia Pernambuco has been approved, has received the approval already, the deal, and now we should also sign the remainder ones.
On Slide 4 , I would point out once again that in 2025, we concluded our investment cycle in transmissions. In 2017, Neoenergia ranked 17th. Today, we rank as the 5th largest operation of transmission assets in Brazil in terms of volume and revenues, and a journey that has culminated in delivering over 8,000 kilometers in transmission lines, 16 substations, and almost 25 million BRL in gross assets, reaching a RAP of 2 billion BRL annually. Now I will turn it over to our CFO, Leonardo, who will share more details on the fourth quarter results and also of 2025. Over to you, Leo.
Thank you, Eduardo. Good morning, everyone. I would like to begin with looking at the consolidated results of Neoenergia on Slide 6.
I will focus on the fourth quarter, since Eduardo has already focused on the annual results in 2025. So the growth margin evolution was 7% over the fourth quarter in 2024, reaching BRL 6,066 million, explained mainly by the readjustments, tariff reviews in late April of the distributors in the Northeast and Elektro last August and Brasília last October. We have also maintained our cost disciplines this quarter, with a 7% decline, closing at BRL 1,051 million this quarter, explained by the higher comparison base in the fourth quarter of 2024. And as mentioned by Eduardo, the head office that was sold in Pernambuco. EBITDA had a 29% growth in the quarter.
As a result, Cash EBITDA, 14% growth, reaching BRL 3.248 billion, the result of a better margin in distributors and cost performance. Network performance represented 92% of the consolidated EBITDA, and in generation and clients, 8%. Net income in the quarter amounted to BRL 1.479 billion, therefore, a 73% growth over for Q 2024. Now looking at CapEx on the next slide. In this quarter, we reached BRL 2.5 billion in total, therefore, along the same lines of the previous quarters, and according to plan, reaching BRL 10.1 billion. As usual, over the past years, CapEx was mainly focused on networks, amount representing 97%. The highlights of the quarter, BRL 1.7 billion in distribution, expansion, and improvement enhancements in the networks.
It's BRL 120 million in transmission lines and progress in regards to conclusion of the projects that were under construction. Now to operational performance and network, follow-up on Slide 9. We have injected energy variations, and five distributors, as announced, had a 2.2% growth in the quarter over 4Q 2024. Growth was similar to the previous quarter, considering the lower temperatures. Total number of consumers reaching 17 million, up by 362,000 customers over the past 12 months. Now on losses, we closed the last quarter of the year with a sound performance here, with three out of the five distributors within the regulatory limit. Brasília and Pernambuco are not within the limit.
Still, they're very low in terms of the way to go for regulatory limit, and the other regulatory limits defined for both indicate they are doing well and very close to this coverage, as we can see in black on the screen. On Slide 11, we see that in 2025, our loan and loss provision reached BRL 559 million, in line with last year, and evolving in relation to 2023, despite the higher income revenues. In the bottom charts, we see that collection also indicate sound performance for distributors. On Slide 12, we will look at the KPIs in DEC and FEC. Our distributors are still with a declining trend within the regulatory limits as well.
Now in regards to results in networks on slide thirteen, and for Q, we see an 11% evolution in gross margin, explained mainly by readjustments and tariff reviews. Operating expenses, as well as in consolidated, had a 7% decline, resulting from the sound performance and also a larger base compared to the previous year, and the Pernambuco head office sale. EBITDA, therefore, was up by 20%, as well as EBITDA cash, with up by 20%, reaching BRL 3 billion. In the fourth quarter, on the right-hand side, we see the breakdown between distribution, transmission. Cash EBITDA distribution was up by 19%, and the quarter in transmission up by 51% through the new projects that came in.
Regulatory EBITDA for transmission assets was BRL 259 million, BRL 142 million from 100%, Neoenergia assets, BRL 107 million, with a JV with GIC, where we have a prevalence in terms of equity. On slide 15, we will look at the generation and customer results, consolidating the renewables and liberalized segment. In 4Q25, the EBITDA in the segment was BRL 322 million, therefore, up over 4Q24. But we were explained mainly by the adjustments of Baixo Iguaçu and 4Q24. The annual growth was 5%, still with a negative impact, resulting from Termo Pernambuco operating partially in 2024 under a contract—the previous contract that had a higher margin.
We also see a breakdown by business lines on the right side, EBITDA in hydropower plants reaching BRL 119 million in 4Q 2025. In wind, BRL 183 million, 30% reduction for lower generation and curtailment. In solar, BRL 8 million, and Termo, BRL 0, there were no dispatches in the quarter. Lastly, in the client business, we had BRL 10 million EBITDA and BRL 8 million growth compared to 4Q 2024. Now, on to slide 17, I will cover our capital structure. We closed the fourth quarter with a net debt of BRL 48.7 billion, higher than the third quarter, as a result of the accelerated CapEx pace. And despite this ratio, we closed at 3.41 times, confirming the divestment trajectory as expected.
Right now, with the conclusion of the transmission works and cash generation growth, the net structure is comfortable, well-distributed, with 5.71 years in average, and a very competitive cost. We have a credit market that has a high demand with a triple-A. For 2025, we all have also taken part of our funding needs for 2026, and right now, this year, we're still looking at favorable conditions for liability management operations, which will further reduce our debt cost. I will now give the floor back to the operator for our Q&A session.
We will now open the Q&A session. Please bear in mind that you should click on the Q&A icon on the bottom of your screen to ask a question. When announced, open your microphone to ask your question, when you should please ask all of your questions. Our first question is by Andre Sampaio from Santander. You may open your microphone, Andre. Andre, please, you need to click on your microphone icon.
Well, the first question is: considering investments in transmission, is there still an agreement and sale intention to GIC? Second question: How is the PTO process going, evolving?
Well, I believe these are questions by Andre Santander , right? To your first question, Andre, our partnership with GIC is solid, remains solid. In 2025, we sold our second package, which was Bapuena. And now, with the conclusion of the other lots, we are, of course, we have been talking to them for a few months now.
We're considering doing an assessment in order to incorporate the other assets to the holding that we have in the partnership with GIC. So nothing has changed. Here, we have been sticking to our strategy that you're familiar with. We have an excellent relationship with this partner, which we mean to reinforce with the remainder transmission assets. Now, we will be focusing on that, on almost BRL 10 billion in assets. So yes, this is moving forward as expected. As for the public takeover offer, you know, this is part of the Iberdrola, the controllers process, and just... Well, to reply to your question, for the second filing, public filing took place on January 30th. There should probably be a third filing, and also, this is also evolving as expected.
Iberdrola has reported that, yes, in terms of timing and deadlines for the PTO, we are, we would be looking at somewhere in between March and April. Following through all the due procedures, requirements, and conditions, provided everything evolves as it should, we would be looking at late March, early April. So yes, if things go as expected, as planned.
We will now close the Q&A session. We will kindly give the floor to our CEO, Eduardo Capelastegui, for his closing remarks.
Okay? Once again, thank you, operator. I would like to, of course, reassure you that we are fully committed to our stakeholders and shareholders. In Neoenergia, we're focusing on three main levers: efficiency and safety in our operations, firstly, secondly, creating value through capital allocation, equity allocation, and thirdly, sustainable growth in all of our businesses.
We can see we've been attaining this through our cash EBITDA, which has grown almost 60, by 60% since our IPO, has more than doubled. We are firmly confident in Brazil's regulatory framework now with our four concessions that are eligible, which brings us the structure that is needed to continue investing in distribution and increase in organic investments in distribution, therefore, providing higher quality to our over 17 million customers. Our growth revenue, main growth revenue is networks, especially with distribution. We have been investing heavily to ensure quality support to our concessions growth. And the ABRADEE Award is a sign of our quality, comes to prove the efficiency in our operations, how we have been managing our distribution business. 2025 was a landmark year in transmissions.
We've concluded an investment cycle with almost BRL 20 million in asset volume and with over BRL 2 billion in RAP, which has been a major achievement, a cycle that has been extended since 2017 when we won our first auction. And of course, capital allocation has also played a key role for us. We're investing in organic growth in our distributors and looking closely at opportunities in other segments and technologies, as well as asset rotation opportunities, looking at the best possible returns for shareholders. We also are very clear on the track we'll follow. We, we have the right team in place that is engaged to deliver.
As usual, I would like to conclude by thanking all of our employees at Neoenergia for fulfilling their roles, surpassing challenges, and delivering in 2025 excellent results, with important added value creation for all of our shareholders. Thank you very much, and I wish you all a wonderful day. The fourth quarter 2025 earnings release call by Neoenergia is now adjourned. The IR department will be available to answer any further questions. Thank you very much for joining us today. Have an excellent day.