In the wake of a massive blackout on New Year's Eve, Puerto Rico is grappling with the effects of an energy crisis that continues to plague the island. As preliminary investigations suggest a fault in an underground power line, only a fraction of the population has regained electricity, emphasizing the need for urgent reforms.
Puerto Rico Faces New Year Power Crisis After Major Blackout
Puerto Rico Faces New Year Power Crisis After Major Blackout
Island plunges into darkness due to widespread outage, prompting urgent calls for infrastructure reform.
Earlier this morning, Puerto Rico experienced a significant blackout that left the majority of its population without electricity. Power distributor Luma Energy confirmed the widespread outage, attributing it to an issue with an underground electrical line. Initial reports indicated that only 13 percent of the island's 1.4 million customers had power restored by about 10:00 am AST (14:00 GMT).
Luma Energy announced that a full restoration of service could take between 24 to 48 hours. However, as the morning progressed, power was gradually restored in some areas, including vital facilities like the municipal hospital in San Juan. This latest New Year's Eve blackout has reignited discussions among local leaders and residents concerning Puerto Rico's ongoing energy instability, a situation that has lingered since Hurricane Maria hit in 2017.
Jenniffer González-Colon, Puerto Rico's congressional representative and the incoming governor, expressed outrage on X, stating that the community cannot continue to endure a failing energy system. Current governor Pedro Pierluisi also demanded transparency and immediate solutions from Luma and Genera, the primary power providers on the island.
The repercussions of power outages continue to impact daily life and the economy; hundreds of thousands experienced outages this year alone, from a June outage affecting 350,000 customers to more than 700,000 losing electricity due to Hurricane Ernesto in August.
As residents woke to yet another day of darkness, many voiced their frustrations. "They're part of my everyday life," lamented Enid Núñez, a 49-year-old Puerto Rican, in an interview with the Associated Press.
Even before the devastating storm, Puerto Rico's power grid was under stress, and while US government funding has been made available for recovery efforts, systemic issues have delayed crucial infrastructure improvements. A report from the US Government Accountability Office dated February 2024 attributes slow progress to construction delays and FEMA's authorization hurdles.
Mark Levine, New York City's Manhattan borough president and advocate for Puerto Rican rights, condemned the slow recovery of the power grid in the wake of Hurricane Maria, emphasizing the obligation to the 3.5 million American citizens living on the island. "We owe them so much better," he stated on X, highlighting the pressing need for effective solutions.
Luma Energy announced that a full restoration of service could take between 24 to 48 hours. However, as the morning progressed, power was gradually restored in some areas, including vital facilities like the municipal hospital in San Juan. This latest New Year's Eve blackout has reignited discussions among local leaders and residents concerning Puerto Rico's ongoing energy instability, a situation that has lingered since Hurricane Maria hit in 2017.
Jenniffer González-Colon, Puerto Rico's congressional representative and the incoming governor, expressed outrage on X, stating that the community cannot continue to endure a failing energy system. Current governor Pedro Pierluisi also demanded transparency and immediate solutions from Luma and Genera, the primary power providers on the island.
The repercussions of power outages continue to impact daily life and the economy; hundreds of thousands experienced outages this year alone, from a June outage affecting 350,000 customers to more than 700,000 losing electricity due to Hurricane Ernesto in August.
As residents woke to yet another day of darkness, many voiced their frustrations. "They're part of my everyday life," lamented Enid Núñez, a 49-year-old Puerto Rican, in an interview with the Associated Press.
Even before the devastating storm, Puerto Rico's power grid was under stress, and while US government funding has been made available for recovery efforts, systemic issues have delayed crucial infrastructure improvements. A report from the US Government Accountability Office dated February 2024 attributes slow progress to construction delays and FEMA's authorization hurdles.
Mark Levine, New York City's Manhattan borough president and advocate for Puerto Rican rights, condemned the slow recovery of the power grid in the wake of Hurricane Maria, emphasizing the obligation to the 3.5 million American citizens living on the island. "We owe them so much better," he stated on X, highlighting the pressing need for effective solutions.
