San Juan, Puerto Rico – A massive island-wide power outage has plunged Puerto Rico into darkness once again, leaving all 1.4 million customers without electricity. Luma Energy, the company responsible for managing the power grid on the island, reported that the outage began at 12:40 p.m. local time on Wednesday. The cause of the interruption is currently under investigation, but preliminary findings suggest an unexpected shutdown at all generating plants.
This latest blackout comes just months after a dayslong outage on New Year’s Eve, which left residents grappling with the challenges of living without electricity. As a result of the power outage, at least 78,000 customers are also without water, adding to the difficulties faced by the people of Puerto Rico. The lack of power is expected to persist for another 48 to 72 hours, further exacerbating the situation on the island.
Genera Power, another company involved in the management of power generation units in Puerto Rico, confirmed that the power outage was widespread and affected various parts of the island. The capital city, San Juan, experienced disruptions to its rapid transit system, forcing people to find alternative routes amidst the chaos. The closure of businesses, including the largest mall in the Caribbean, added to the economic impact of the blackout.
Josué Colón, the island’s energy czar and a former executive director of Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority, expressed his frustration at the ongoing power issues. He labeled the situation as “unacceptable,” highlighting the urgent need for a sustainable solution to the recurring outages across the island. The Center of Emergency Management in Puerto Rico is working closely with Luma Energy and Genera Power to address emergency situations caused by the blackout.
The impact of the power outage also extended to the San Juan Airport, which is currently operating on backup generators, affecting some of its services. Despite the challenges faced, flights are still running on schedule, but passengers are advised to arrive at the airport with ample time to account for any potential delays or disruptions. This recent power outage adds to the struggles that Puerto Rico has faced since Hurricane Maria devastated the island’s power grid, leaving residents with exorbitant electricity costs and unreliable service.
The frustration and anger among residents continue to grow as power outages become more frequent and last for extended periods of time, further highlighting the urgent need for improvements in Puerto Rico’s energy infrastructure. The challenges posed by the power outages not only disrupt daily life but also have severe economic repercussions for businesses and residents of the island. As authorities work to restore power to the affected areas, the focus remains on finding long-term solutions to prevent such widespread blackouts in the future.