Puerto Rico faced widespread frustration after a near-total blackout disrupted power for approximately 90% of the island’s residents. Luma Energy, the primary power distributor, reported that nearly 1.5 million customers were impacted by the Puerto Rico blackout crisis on New Year’s Eve.
By late Tuesday, Luma had restored electricity to over 700,000 customers, including 16 hospitals and the water and sewer authority. The blackout caused by a Costa Sur power plant line failure triggered a cascading outage across the island.
Luma Energy spokesperson Hugo Sorrentini confirmed the widespread nature of the issue during Tuesday’s briefing. President Joe Biden was briefed on the Puerto Rico blackout crisis, and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm offered federal assistance in discussions with Puerto Rico’s governor.
Current congressional representative Jenniffer González-Colon criticized the recurring failures. On X, she stated, “We can’t keep relying on an energy system that fails our people.” Through Facebook, Governor Pedro Pierluisi demanded explanations from famous companies such as Luma and Genera. Focusing on the uncertainty surrounding the restoration timelines and residents’ growing frustration, this crisis highlighted how power outages significantly impact lives.
Puerto Rico’s power infrastructure remains strained from Hurricane Maria in 2017 despite federal funding for recovery efforts. Delayed project implementation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s funding conditions have further complicated grid improvements, according to the 2024 US Government Accountability Office.
This year’s incidents include a June outage that left 350,000 customers without electricity. The damages from Hurricane Ernesto also emphasize the ongoing vulnerabilities. Many Puerto Ricans, like Enid Núñez, expressed frustration from repeated disruptions.
