Puerto Rico Faces Another Blackout: Officials Seek Solutions While Crews Race to Restore Power

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — On Thursday, workers raced to restore power across Puerto Rico following a massive blackout that left the entire island in the dark, including major spots like the international airport and hospitals. The outage began Wednesday afternoon, impacting about 1.4 million customers and cutting off water for over 400,000 people. By Thursday afternoon, power had returned to more than 850,000 people—around 58% of affected customers—with water service mostly restored as well. Officials are optimistic that 90% of residents will have electricity back within 48 to 72 hours.

Governor Jenniffer González, who hurried back from vacation, expressed frustration about the situation. She stated, “This is a shame for the people of Puerto Rico,” and indicated that understanding the cause of such a large outage could take several days.

During the blackout, many struggled to keep cool amid the heat. The island has been facing challenges with its power system, and the governor highlighted concerns about a non-functioning boiler in one plant, which could lead to more issues as families return from their holiday breaks.

This blackout is the second major one in just a few months. The last significant outage occurred on New Year’s Eve. Residents, like José Luis Richardson, were vocal about their concerns, questioning why it had to happen during a holiday. Amidst the crisis, calls have risen for the government to reconsider contracts with energy companies like Luma Energy, responsible for power distribution, due to ongoing reliability issues.

On the operational side, González recognized the need for change but noted that addressing the problems won’t happen overnight. Each major outage can lead to substantial economic impacts, with estimates suggesting that losing power could cost Puerto Rico about $215 million in revenue loss each day, according to industry experts.

Ramón C. Barquín III, who heads the United Retail Center, warned that a pattern of blackouts might deter potential investors, ultimately hindering the island’s economic growth. “We can’t keep facing these blackouts without strengthening our electricity infrastructure,” he said.

Concern has also been raised for vulnerable populations, especially the elderly. Some mayors have started initiatives to check on those who need electricity for medical equipment and to provide power alternatives where possible.

As of now, the investigation into the cause of the latest blackout is ongoing. Locals speculate that equipment failures or issues like overgrown vegetation may have triggered the grid’s collapse. Judging from previous incidents, Puerto Rico’s power grid remains fragile, a vulnerability stemming from years of neglect following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017, which severely damaged the island’s power infrastructure.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining reliable energy sources. Improving Puerto Rico’s electrical grid is crucial for both economic stability and the safety of its residents.

Source link

Puerto Rico, Power outages, Medical technology, Hurricanes and typhoons, General news, Hospitality and leisure industry, Business, Washington news, World news, Pedro Melndez, Jos Luis Richardson, Ramn C. Barqun III, Daniel Hernndez, Washington News