Puerto Rico Still Plagues By Power Outages in the Wake of Storm Ernesto

A week after the calamity of tropical storm-turned-hurricane Ernesto, Puerto Rico is still hampered by power outages, highlighting the island’s crippled power infrastructure.

Tropical Storm Ernesto

Last week, tropical storm Ernesto wreaked havoc in northern Puerto Rico, cutting power to more than 700,000 electricity customers – nearly half of the island’s population – overnight. 

Tens of Thousands Without Power

One week on and the US territory is still struggling to restore power to affected residents. Tens of thousands of people are still without power since last Tuesday night when the island was hit by torrential rain and high winds.

40,000 Cut Off

Out of 1.5 million utility customers across the island, 40,000 were still cut off by Tuesday afternoon this week, according to public officials.

Worrying Weather Reports

These prolonged outages could have devastating effects as the National Weather Service reports “dangerously hot and humid conditions” across the island this week. Extreme heat with no electricity could lead to hospitalizations and even fatalities for these cut-off customers.

Concentrated in the North

The outages are largely concentrated in the north of the island. 30% of affected customers are in the coastal town of Luquillo, with the remaining majority in Fajardo, Río Grande, and Yabucoa.

Working 24/7

Now, utility crews are working hard to fix the remaining outages, according to Juan Saca, president of Luma Energy. The company is struggling with a lack of electrical generation and downed powerlines but denies that the continued outages have to do with infrastructure issues.

Head of Power Infrastructure

Luma is a company that operates the island’s privatized power grid and distributes electricity across Puerto Rico. It also maintains the territory’s power infrastructure.

Hurricane Maria

The island’s electrical grid has been in an especially precarious state since it was hit by Hurricane Maria in 2017. However, even prior to Maria Puerto Rico’s power infrastructure has suffered from a lack of investment and consistent maintenance over the years.

Years of Outages

As a result, the population of more than 3 million has suffered from intermittent power outages for years. It has been a persistent worry, due to Puerto Rico’s widespread poverty that makes reliance on generators and solar power unfeasible for many people.

Electric Power Authority Debt

Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority is more than $9 million in debt, which led to the Luma taking over as a utility authority for the island in 2021, along with another private company Genera PR. 

Public Condemnation

Luma has since faced major scrutiny from public officials, NGOs, and the wider population. Groups like the Teachers’ Federation of Puerto Rico have issued public condemnations of the company and called for the government to end its contract.

Countless Issues for Residents

“Due to constant power outages, thousands of citizens have lost electrical appliances in their homes, thrown away groceries, patients have stopped receiving their treatments, our schools have become ovens in the heatwave,” the statement said, referring to extreme summer heatwaves felt across the US this year.

Classrooms Are Impacted

“Our classroom equipment is getting damaged, and our students and teachers arrive sleepless to the classroom, negatively impacting teaching and learning conditions,” it continued.

Increased Average Outage Duration

Puerto Rico’s Energy Bureau has also pointed out that the average outage period has increased in duration by 9% in the last year. The average power outage in the island territory now lasts for 1,448 minutes.

Severe Staffing Deficit

Agustin Irizarry, a professor at the University of Puerto Rico and an expert on the territory’s electrical grid, has blamed the company’s failures on its workforce deficit – since taking over in 2021, it has only employed a third of the number of line workers as the government formerly did.

“Improvements Are Happening”

During a Tuesday news conference, Julio Aguilar, the director of reliability and distribution automation for Luma, attributed the increase to a range of external factors and insisted that “improvements are happening.”

Governor Defends It

Puerto Rico’s Gov. Pedro Pierluisi has also defended the company’s response to Ernesto this week, announcing on Monday: “In the span of three days, already 96% of the population had electric service.”

Schools and Medical Facilities

Public officials this week confirmed that all schools and 80% of medical facilities in Puerto Rico would have their power fully restored by the end of Tuesday.

Some Are Still Skeptical

Other public officials are less sure about Luma’s ability to respond to flood and storm damage such as what occurred last week. 

Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands

Jesús Colón Berlingeri, the mayor of Orocovis, a town in central Puerto Rico, reportedly hired his own crew to repair the town’s powerlines rather than rely on Luma workers. The company has since issued a cease and desist letter to the mayor.

DeSantis in More Hot Water as Florida Floods, Again

Florida residents are struggling this hurricane season, and many are pointing the finger at a certain Governor. DeSantis in More Hot Water as Florida Floods, Again

J.C. Penney’s Closures Signal the End of an Era in Retail

Popular department store, J.C. Penney, has announced the closure of multiple stores across the country. This announcement reflects changes in the retail industry as online shopping becomes more popular. But how will these changes affect consumers and the future of in-store shopping? J.C. Penney’s Closures Signal the End of an Era in Retail

Michigan’s Governor Whitmer Lays Down the Law for HOAs

Gretchen Whitmer has just taken on HOAs across Michigan. Who won? Michigan’s Governor Whitmer Lays Down the Law for HOAs

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / ChameleonsEye.

The images used are for illustrative purposes only and may not represent the actual people or places mentioned in the article.