SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — On Tuesday morning, an extensive power outage affected nearly the entire region of Puerto Rico just as residents were gearing up to welcome the New Year’s celebrations, leaving over 1.3 million customers without electricity. Officials estimated that the power restoration could take up to two days.
The blackout commenced at dawn, causing a sudden stillness across the island as electrical devices and air conditioning units suddenly shut down. Many residents resorted to using generators if they were available to them.
“This had to happen on December 31st!” expressed a man named Manuel outside a grocery store in the capital city of San Juan, visibly frustrated by the interruption that coincided with his birthday. “There is no happiness.”
According to Luma Energy, the private firm responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity, nearly 90% of the 1.47 million customers in Puerto Rico were affected by the outage. By late Tuesday night, reports indicated that over 700,000 clients and crucial facilities, including 16 hospitals and the local water and sewer company, had regained power. Unfortunately, Luma’s webpage listing outage statuses went offline amidst the efforts.
“We understand the dissatisfaction this outage has brought, especially on a day such as this,” Luma acknowledged in a statement. “We apologize for the disruption to your festivities.”
The cause of this outage was likely attributed to a malfunction in an underground power line, as stated by Luma. They assured the public that they were working to restore electricity “as quickly and safely as possible.” Luma spokesman Hugo Sorrentini noted that a detailed investigation was underway.
In light of the outage, Discover Puerto Rico, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting tourism on the island, issued a notice for travelers on its website, urging cruise ship passengers to reach out to their tour operators for updates on whether they had generators or were operational.
Five cruise ships were scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, and although many hotels were operational thanks to generators, some short-term rentals without backup power experienced cancellations. Nevertheless, the primary international airport in San Juan remained open and functional.
This blackout intensified the existing discontent directed toward Luma and Genera PR, the company responsible for power generation in Puerto Rico, as calls increased for their removal from management.
Governor-elect Jenniffer González Colón, who is set to take office on January 2, proposed the establishment of an “energy czar” to investigate potential breaches of contract by Luma while seeking out alternative energy providers.
“We can’t continue relying on an energy system that fails our people,” she expressed on social media, stating that stabilizing Puerto Rico’s energy network would be her foremost priority once in office.
Meanwhile, Governor Pedro Pierluisi communicated with Luma and Genera PR and expressed on social media that they were “demanding answers and solutions.”
President Joe Biden reached out to Pierluisi on Tuesday evening regarding the power situation and offered federal assistance. He also spoke with U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, directing her to provide necessary support to expedite the restoration of power on the island.
As the power outage persisted, various businesses, parks, and malls were forced to close operations, and the government implemented limited schedules for certain agencies. Workers were dispatched to monitor the well-being of immobile patients and distributed ice to aid diabetics in keeping their insulin cold.
In the face of this disruption, some Puerto Ricans began to prepare for the night ahead. “I’ll go to my balcony. That’s where I’ll sleep,” remarked Raúl Pacheco, a 63-year-old diabetic, as he settled down on a walker while nursing an injured foot.
Julio Córdova, a municipal employee, mentioned he got dressed using his cellphone’s flashlight and planned to buy candles. “This affects me because I had plans. Couldn’t it have happened yesterday or tomorrow?” he remarked, shaking his head while clearing leaves.
While complete blackouts across the territory are uncommon, Puerto Rico faces ongoing power challenges stemming from a dilapidated electrical grid that suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm that struck in September 2017.
In fact, the system had already been deteriorating due to years of neglect and inadequate investment before the hurricane. Recently, maintenance crews started making permanent repairs to the island’s power grid in the aftermath of the storm. The local government still relies on generators provided by FEMA to assist in stabilizing electricity on the island.
In November, local officials sought permission from U.S. authorities to continue using more than a dozen portable generators for an additional two years to address ongoing power instability.
Some residents opted to take the latest outage with a sense of resignation. “They’re an everyday occurrence,” commented Enid Núñez, 49, who managed to prepare breakfast using a small gas stove she purchased for such emergencies.
At the same time, Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority continues to grapple with the daunting task of restructuring over $9 billion in debt, marking it as one of the most significant entities within the island’s government.
A notable 60% of Puerto Rico’s energy is generated by oil-dependent plants, followed by natural gas and coal. Solar energy, via rooftop installations, contributes merely around 7% to the state’s electricity consumption, set against a backdrop of a poverty rate exceeding 40%.
