While many around the world are preparing to celebrate the New Year with excitement and joy, millions in Puerto Rico find themselves facing yet another challenging situation.
According to NBC News, close to 1.3 million customers were left in the dark just as the island prepared to usher in 2024. Talk about a mood killer! The blackout reportedly hit at dawn, casting an unsettling silence over the streets.
Luma Energy, the private company responsible for electricity transmission and distribution, reported that nearly 90% of their 1.47 million clients were left powerless. They stated the cause was an underground power line failure, but let’s be real—this isn’t the first time Puerto Ricans have faced this kind of situation. However, Luma has promised to restore power “in the quickest and safest way possible.”
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So far, by mid-morning, Luma tweeted that they were starting to restore power in some areas, including a hospital district. But for those still waiting in the dark, it’s still frustrating.
Governor-elect Jenniffer González Colón, stepping into her role on January 2, is already pushing for the creation of an “energy czar” to examine any potential breaches in Luma’s contract. Meanwhile, Governor Pedro Pierluisi was in communication with both Luma and Genera PR, demanding answers.
Let’s not forget the backdrop of Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017 and exposed the severe vulnerabilities in the island’s power grid. Since then, chronic power outages have become too common, leaving Puerto Ricans to wonder when things might finally stabilize.
With the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority still struggling to restructure over $9 billion in debt, the news site notes. The road to recovery seems long and winding.
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