A major power outage impacted nearly all of Puerto Rico as the island prepared to ring in the New Year, leaving over 1.3 million residents without electricity early Tuesday. The blackout, which affected approximately 90% of customers, was attributed to a failure in an underground power line. Officials indicated that power restoration could take up to two days.
As residents braced themselves for the disruption, the mood was understandably somber. Many, like a local named Manuel, expressed their frustration, particularly as the outage coincided with his birthday. “There is no happiness,” he lamented outside a grocery store in San Juan.
Reports showed that by Tuesday night, power had been restored to more than 336,000 customers, including essential services such as hospitals and the water utility, although Luma Energy’s website detailing remaining outages was temporarily down. In their statement, Luma acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the outage and pledged to restore power swiftly and safely, as investigations continued.
The outage drew attention to ongoing frustrations with Luma Energy and Genera PR, the company responsible for generating power in Puerto Rico. Governor-elect Jenniffer González Colón highlighted the need for improvement in the energy sector, proposing the establishment of an “energy czar” to review potential breaches in contracts with Luma, while current Governor Pedro Pierluisi expressed the need for answers and solutions.
In response to the situation, federal assistance was offered by President Joe Biden, who spoke with Pierluisi and directed U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to expedite power restoration efforts.
The blackout had a profound impact on daily life across Puerto Rico; businesses, parks, and malls were forced to close, with some government services operating on limited schedules. Residents were encouraged to adapt, with some planning to sleep on their balconies and even utilizing gas stoves to prepare food during the outage.
While power outages are not a common occurrence, Puerto Rico’s power grid has faced ongoing challenges since it was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The island’s electricity infrastructure has historically suffered from neglect, poor maintenance, and insufficient investment. Recently, however, efforts to repair the grid have begun, with the federal government providing portable generators as a temporary solution.
While the situation is undoubtedly difficult, it’s a moment for the people of Puerto Rico to come together and push for the reforms necessary to strengthen their energy infrastructure, ensuring a more stable future. The response from both local and federal leaders signals a collective commitment to addressing these longstanding issues, fostering hope for improved energy reliability moving forward.