Puerto Rico Experiences Major Blackout on New Year’s Eve

Background

Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Christopher Columbus monument at Plaza Cristobal Colon in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. The origins of this monument are obscure, but it appears to have been erected in 1894.

Recent Blackout

Puerto Rico experienced a major blackout on New Year’s Eve, leaving much of the island without power and plunging street lamps, and traffic lights into darkness just before dawn at 5:30 am. The outage, caused by a “critical failure” in the grid, disrupted service to nearly 1.27 million homes. Large hotels and hospitals in Puerto Rico are usually able to switch over to emergency generators.

LUMA, the private company managing the grid, traced the problem to a fault in an underground line and warned that full restoration could take up to 48 hours. Although precise details are scant, it seems that the blackout stemmed from a failure with an underground power cable at the Costa Sur (South Coast) power plant, leading to a chain reaction across the grid.

Government Response

US President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm have been briefed, offering federal support. Local leaders, including Jenniffer González-Colon and Governor Pedro Pierluisi, demanded accountability and swift action from power companies Luma and Genera. Governor Pedro Pierluisi assured residents that restoration work had begun, while incoming Governor Jenniffer González Colón plans to review LUMA’s actions and explore alternatives.

Public Reaction

Public frustration remains high, with protests against LUMA’s services and contract terms. Representative Adriano Espaillat called for urgent reform, citing ongoing instability and underutilized federal funds. Popular Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny has been vocal about Puerto Rico’s power outages, using his platform to highlight the issue through his music and public statements.

Conclusion

The recent blackout in Puerto Rico highlights the ongoing struggles the island faces in maintaining a reliable power grid. Despite billions in U.S. aid, the grid has yet to fully recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017. As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential for local and federal authorities to work together to find a solution to this persistent problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

* What caused the recent blackout in Puerto Rico?
+ The blackout was caused by a “critical failure” in the grid, which disrupted service to nearly 1.27 million homes.
* How long will it take to restore power?
+ LUMA warned that full restoration could take up to 48 hours.
* What is being done to address the issue?
+ Local leaders are demanding accountability and swift action from power companies Luma and Genera, while incoming Governor Jenniffer González Colón plans to review LUMA’s actions and explore alternatives.