Power was restored to almost all of Puerto Rico’s 1.47 million utility customers following a sweeping blackout on New Year’s Eve. The outage was caused by a failure in an underground electric line, according to Luma Energy, the private company overseeing power distribution in Puerto Rico. While power has been restored to 98% of customers, the company warned that temporary outages may still occur in the coming days.
Governor-elect Jenniffer González Colón urged customers to be moderate with their energy consumption to help reduce load shifting as power plants are not yet operating at full capacity. Puerto Rico’s power grid has long been fragile and faulty due to years of neglect, with unreliable electricity hindering daily life for residents. The grid was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and has struggled to recover since.
The New Year’s Eve outage came as clients prepare for an increase in electricity rates approved by the Energy Bureau last month. Residential customers can expect a nearly $20 increase in their electric bills from January through March. The outage served as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Puerto Rico’s power grid and the need for sustained efforts to improve its reliability for residents.
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