Josué Colón, the director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), the public entity responsible for managing the grid serving 1.5 million customers in collaboration with Luma, discussed the recent power disruptions during a radio interview. Colón explained that a power line issue in the southern part of the island triggered a “cascade effect,” resulting in multiple power plants going offline. He anticipated that rectifying the problem would be a time-consuming process, stating that it would likely take “much of the day” to fully address the situation.
Governor Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico announced his engagement with both Luma and Genera PR, a private energy company, emphasizing the need for prompt solutions and transparent communication. Pierluisi demanded swift action from the companies to restart the affected generating units and ensure continuous updates to the public regarding the restoration efforts across the island.
Incoming Governor Jenniffer González expressed her concerns via social media about the recurring power failures, underscoring the detrimental impact on the economy and residents’ quality of life. González emphasized that enhancing the stability of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid would be a primary focus during her tenure.
Amid the power disruptions, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport assured the public that flight operations remained unaffected, thanks to their utilization of backup electricity generators.
The challenges facing Puerto Rico’s energy infrastructure have persisted since the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017, which severely damaged the power grid. The island has grappled with ongoing power outages, exacerbating the fragility of the electrical system left in disarray following the natural disaster.
In an effort to address these issues, the government selected Luma, a joint venture between Atco from Calgary, Alberta, and Quanta Services Inc. from Houston, to manage the island’s electricity services in partnership with PREPA. Luma commenced its operations in Puerto Rico in 2021, aiming to improve the reliability and efficiency of the power supply.
Despite these initiatives, power outages remain a persistent frustration for many Puerto Ricans, leading to public demonstrations and emergency declarations by officials like San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero. The situation prompted New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2022 to call for a federal investigation into Luma, citing the continued challenges faced by residents in accessing reliable electricity amid escalating costs.
Furthermore, customers in Puerto Rico have endured multiple rate hikes, with the average electricity bill being more than double that of mainland U.S. customers. Luma reported a 30% reduction in outage frequency within a year and initiated 251 federally funded projects to revamp the aging power grid.
In response to public pressure, Genera PR, a U.S.-owned entity, assumed control of previously state-owned power stations, which average 45 years in age and heavily rely on fossil fuels for energy production. The outdated infrastructure has contributed to the vulnerability of the electrical system, as evidenced by the significant power outages affecting over 700,000 customers during Tropical
