On Tuesday, in the early hours of December 31st, almost the entire US territory of Puerto Rico experienced a massive power outage, leaving over 1.3 million users in darkness as the locals prepared to celebrate the New Year. Officials stated that restoring power could take up to two days.
The blackout occurred at dawn, plunging the island into silence as electrical appliances and air conditioners stopped working, prompting residents who could afford it to turn on their own generators.
A man named Manuel stood outside a grocery store in the capital city of San Juan lamenting, “Of all days, why does it have to be December 31st! No one’s here to wish me a happy birthday!” It happened to be his birthday that day.
Luma Energy, the private company responsible for power transmission and distribution, reported that nearly 90% of the island’s 1.47 million customers were in darkness.
In a statement, Luma Energy indicated that the blackout appeared to be caused by an underground cable fault and assured that they were working to restore power “in the fastest and safest manner.” A spokesperson for Luma Energy informed the Associated Press that the incident was under investigation.
The power outage sparked anger towards Luma Energy and Genera PR, the company responsible for electricity production in Puerto Rico, leading to increasing calls for the government to terminate contracts with these two companies.
Incoming Governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González Colón, who will be sworn in on January 2nd, called for the establishment of an “energy regulator” to review any potential contract breaches by Luma Energy before finding a new operator. She expressed on platform X, “We cannot continue to rely on an energy system that fails our people,” emphasizing that stabilizing Puerto Rico’s energy network would be her top priority upon taking office.
Meanwhile, current Governor Pedro Pierluisi stated that he was in contact with Luma Energy and Genera PR, seeking answers and solutions to the situation.
The outage forced businesses, parks, and several shopping centers to close, prompting the government to announce restricted working hours for some institutions and sending personnel to check on hundreds of bedridden patients.
Amidst the blackout, Puerto Ricans began making plans for the future.
Three-year-old diabetes patient Raúl Pacheco, nursing his injured foot while sitting on a walker, shrugged and said, “I’ll go to the balcony, that’s where I sleep.”
City worker Julio Córdova, illuminating himself with his mobile phone, dressed up and planned to buy some candles. “This (blackout) affects me because I had plans. Couldn’t it have happened yesterday or tomorrow?” he muttered while shaking his head and raking leaves.
Power outages were previously rare in Puerto Rico, but after Hurricane Maria devastated the island’s power grid in September 2017, prolonged outages became a recurring issue.
Due to years of maintenance neglect and lack of investment, the electrical system had been deteriorating. Only recently have efforts begun to permanently repair Puerto Rico’s power grid after Hurricane Maria.
Currently, the island continues to rely on generators provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to stabilize the grid.
In November, the Puerto Rican government requested permission from US officials to reuse 12 portable generators for another two years.
While some Puerto Ricans remained unfazed by the recent power outage, 49-year-old Enid Núñez remarked, “Power outages have become a part of my daily life.” Thanks to her preparation with a small gas stove, she managed to have breakfast before heading to work.
Meanwhile, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority is working towards restructuring over $9 billion in debt, the largest among the island’s government agencies.
Over 60% of Puerto Rico’s power plants rely on oil, followed by reliance on natural gas and coal. Only about 7% of the island’s electricity consumption comes from rooftop solar panels in a place where over 40% of the population lives in poverty.
(Report referenced from the Associated Press)