What to know about Luma Energy, the company involved in Puerto Rico’s massive blackout
massive power outage Covers most of Puerto Rico More than 1.2 million people were without power early Tuesday. Below is information about the outage and Luma Energy, which is responsible for the distribution and transmission of electricity on the island.
What is the reason for the power outage?
Luma Energy said in a statement that it was investigating the cause of the outage, but noted preliminary findings suggested there was a problem with underground lines.
How long will it take for power to be restored in Puerto Rico?
Luma said in an article statement Earlier Tuesday, power across Puerto Rico could take 24 to 28 hours to be restored.
The company later said power had been restored to some areas, including hospitals in San Juan, but did not say how many people were still without power.
Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport, Puerto Rico’s main airport explain It said on social media on Tuesday that it had activated backup generators and was operating normally.
What is Luma?
Luma is a privately held Canadian-American company headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico that operates and manages Puerto Rico’s electricity infrastructure.
After Hurricane Maria, destroyed american territory In September 2017, the Puerto Rico government hired Luma to take charge of the island’s power transmission and distribution in 2021. Electricity was previously regulated by the state-owned Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), which Bankruptcy 2017 Because the government faces billions of dollars in public debt repayments.
Luma CEO Juan Saca, a veteran telecoms executive appointed to lead the company in 2023, explain At a Sept. 26 hearing before a House panel, Luma has made significant investments to improve Puerto Rico’s power grid. These include installing more than 17,850 hurricane-proof power poles, adding thousands of automated devices designed to mitigate the impact of power outages, and clearing vegetation on the island that could impede maintenance.
“The impact is real. Last year, more than 95% of customers had concurrent service more than 98% of the time when generation was available,” he told lawmakers.
But Sacca also sought to deflect criticism that Puerto Rico’s power system remains unreliable, pointing to previous “financial mismanagement.” He said PREPA’s bankruptcy seven years ago had also hampered efforts to strengthen and modernize the island’s electricity grid.
Have Puerto Ricans experienced a power outage before?
Puerto Rico’s power grid was in trouble even before Hurricane Maria due to inadequate maintenance and years of underinvestment. But the Category 4 storm crippled the system: Even years after Maria, long outages and high electricity bills remain Common in Puerto Rico.
To give a recent example, in June, power failure More than 340,000 Puerto Ricans were plunged into darkness after the island’s two power plants shut down.
“They are part of my daily life,” Enid Núñez, 49, told The Associated Press, saying she eats breakfast before work thanks to the small ones she buys for such events. Gas stove. Raúl Pacheco, 63, who has diabetes and injured his foot, said he planned to sleep on his balcony during the blackout.
Antonio Torres Miranda, Deputy Administrator of the Puerto Rico Energy Authority explain This fall, the House of Representatives said at a hearing that the island’s distribution and transmission system had made progress but was still below standards.
“The recent outages in June 2024, which affected more than 300,000 customers, are a stark reminder of the fragility of our infrastructure and the urgent need for comprehensive improvements,” he said. “These events highlight the impact of aging assets, deferred maintenance, and climate change The complex interplay between the changing impacts on our island’s electricity grid.”
Some critics have been more blunt in their assessment of Luma’s record in Puerto Rico.
Camille Rivera, founder of grassroots advocacy group La Brega Y Fuerza, said: “Nearly a quarter of a century into the 21st century, it is ridiculous that Puerto Rico’s power grid has once again failed to live up to people’s expectations. Puerto Ricans deserve This latest fiasco warrants answers and accountability from Luma,” the group said in a statement. “Luma has left Puerto Rico in an energy dilemma, and Puerto Ricans should not have to endure continued subpar service.”
contributed to this report.
