Governor promises to alleviate power, water shortages

SAN JUAN (AP):

Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González has pledged to boost the amount of electricity available to power the US territory as chronic outages persist, angering and frustrating many across the island.

She said a bidding process to install 3,000 megawatts of additional power-generation capacity is under way and will likely be completed by late summer. In addition, she announced that nearly 1,000 megawatts will be added to the system in the coming months as crews work to repair and modernise various power plants.

González noted that 100 megawatts provide sufficient energy for 60,000 families.

“With more megawatts in the system, we can reduce outages,” she said.

Hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico’s power grid when it hit the island as a Category-4 storm in September 2017, but the grid was already crumbling, given a lack of maintenance and investment.

González said crews have also started installing Tesla batteries using more than US$700 million in federal funds, adding that they are expected to reduce power outages, given their 430-megawatt storage capacity.

In addition, 244 megawatts of power capacity from plants that will run during periods of high demand have already come online, she said.

González has faced heavy criticism for backing a move by the administration of US President Donald Trump to redirect US$350 million in federal funds originally meant to finance rooftop solar and battery systems for 12,000 low-income families in Puerto Rico. The funds are now being invested in the island’s crumbling power grid.

González also said she would continue to push for the conversion of power plants to natural gas.

“I want to reduce the cost of power in Puerto Rico,” she said.

In 2024, the island’s average electricity price ranked fifth highest, just behind Hawaii, California, Connecticut and Rhode Island, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

The governor also reiterated her promise to cancel a multimillion-dollar contract awarded to Luma, a private company overseeing the transmission and distribution of power in Puerto Rico, which has been widely criticised as outages persist.

Luma said in a statement that “the improvements to the transmission and distribution network are evident.”

It added: “As long as the outstanding funds remain available, the reconstruction and modernisation work across the island will continue.”

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority is still struggling to restructure more than US$9 billion in debt.

González also acknowledged “serious problems” with the island’s water infrastructure, with a growing number of communities reporting prolonged periods without service.

“I don’t intend to console anyone,” she said as she asked for patience, noting that reconstruction efforts are under way.

Following the nearly two-hour address, the governor, a member of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, faced criticism from political opponents.

Pablo José Hernández, Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress and a member of the Popular Democratic Party, posted a video message after the address asserting that Puerto Ricans are not alone, “that your feelings of frustration, dissatisfaction, and anger are justified.”