Outrage in Puerto Rico Over Persistent Power Outages; Officials Seek Answers

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A notable wave of demand has surged among the local government officials in Puerto Rico for clarity from two private electric companies as the region endures ongoing power outages. The issue has seen tens of thousands of customers, including residences, schools, and businesses, left in the dark due to selective power cuts linked to generation deficits caused by several units undergoing maintenance.

In a firm stance, lawmakers have called for the presidents of Luma Energy, responsible for the transmission and distribution of power, and Genera PR, which handles generation, to appear for questioning on the following day. Each company has been engaging in a blame game, attributing the outages to the failures of the other.

“Enough with the excuses; we don’t want more explanations,” stated Carlos Méndez, a member of Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives. “The people deserve a clear and precise answer.”

On Wednesday, Luma Energy issued a statement pointing fingers at Genera PR for the outages, citing a lack of generation capacity and deteriorating infrastructure that Genera is responsible for. They emphasized that Genera should take accountability for the current crisis.

Conversely, Genera PR claimed that it was Luma Energy that had requested a reduction in generation, which they argue has caused damage to the units that are now under repair.

The privatization of operations saw both companies contracted to operate after Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority faced issues restructuring a staggering $9 billion debt. Moreover, the island has been grappling with its aging infrastructure since the mid-20th century, the maintenance of which had long been ignored, compounding the challenges faced by the local power grid.

The situation has prompted Edwin García Feliciano, Puerto Rico’s ombudsman, to urge the governor to engage with energy officials for immediate and decisive action. In a statement released on Wednesday, García accused both companies of holding Puerto Ricans “hostage.”

“They lack the urgency or commitment needed to resolve this problem,” he remarked, highlighting the pervasive frustration among residents who are suffering due to the frequent outages.

The backdrop of these outages comes just a few weeks after Tropical Storm Ernesto impacted the island, leaving over 730,000 customers without power at that time. Efforts to permanently repair the electric grid are ongoing, as the damage from Hurricane Maria in September 2017 — a catastrophic Category 4 storm — continues to be felt across the territory.

Many residents and businesses have expressed their dissatisfaction with the handling of power services. With sporadic outages affecting daily life and operations, the call for accountability and responsive action from the utility companies is growing louder.

The ongoing turmoil in the energy sector of Puerto Rico has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the privatization initiative meant to enhance service and reliability. As the companies continue to deflect blame, pressing demands from the populace for a restoration of stable service grow more urgent.

The island remains in a precarious position as it navigates its energy crisis, compounded by earlier natural disasters. Despite the privatization meant to invigorate the sector, the reality on the ground reflects a system struggling with its past failures and current operational hurdles.

As public pressure mounts, the immediate hope is for firm assurances from Luma Energy and Genera PR regarding future reliability and infrastructure investments. Without significant improvements, the strain on residents and businesses will only continue to escalate.

Source: AP