A major power outage affected most of Puerto Rico early on Tuesday, leaving over 1.2 million residents without electricity. Here is an overview of the blackout and the role of Luma Energy, the company responsible for electricity distribution and transmission on the island.
What caused the blackout?
Luma Energy is currently investigating the cause of the outage, which disrupted businesses and led government agencies to adjust their operating hours. Initial findings suggest that an underground power line issue may have been a contributing factor.
When can power be expected to be restored in Puerto Rico?
According to Luma’s statement released early on Tuesday, it is estimated that it will take approximately 24-28 hours to fully restore power across Puerto Rico. Some areas, like the Municipal Hospital of San Juan, have already had their service restored, but the exact number of individuals still without power has not been disclosed.
How is Luma involved?
Luma is a private Canadian-American company headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that manages and operates the electric power infrastructure on the island. Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017, the Puerto Rican government hired Luma in 2021 to take over the transmission and distribution of electricity from the state-owned Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), which declared bankruptcy in 2017 due to significant public debt.
Juan Saca, CEO of Luma, has emphasized the company’s efforts to enhance Puerto Rico’s power grid by investing in hurricane-resistant utility poles, automation devices to mitigate outages, and vegetation clearance for maintenance. Despite progress, challenges remain due to past financial mismanagement and delays in modernizing the grid.
Previous Power Outages in Puerto Rico
Even before Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico’s electric grid faced issues due to lack of maintenance and underinvestment. The devastating storm exacerbated the situation, leading to ongoing power outages and high electricity costs. Residents have become accustomed to disruptions, with recent incidents, such as the outage affecting over 340,000 people, highlighting the challenges faced by Puerto Ricans in accessing reliable electricity.
“The recent power outages in June 2024, impacting more than 300,000 customers, underscore the vulnerability of our infrastructure and the urgent need for comprehensive enhancements,” stated an official. “These incidents reveal the intricate interplay of aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance, and the escalating effects of climate change on our island’s power supply.”
Some critics are more direct in their evaluation of Luma’s performance in Puerto Rico. “It is absurd that in the 21st century, Puerto Rico’s power grid continues to fail its residents. The people of Puerto Rico deserve explanations and accountability from Luma for this latest debacle,” remarked Camille Rivera, founder of La Brega Y Fuerza, a grassroots advocacy organization. “Luma exerts a stranglehold on Puerto Rico’s energy, and the citizens should not have to endure subpar services any longer.”
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