- विज्ञापन -
New York: Almost all of Puerto Rico experienced a power outage on New Year’s Eve, leaving over 1.3 million residents in the dark. The blackout occurred early in the morning, resulting in a quiet island as appliances and air conditioning units shut off, with only those using generators able to maintain power.
According to Luma Energy, the private company responsible for electricity transmission and distribution, nearly 90% of the 1.47 million customers were affected. They reported that the outage was “systemwide” and that restoring power could take up to two days. Since Hurricane Maria in 2017, Puerto Rico has faced numerous blackouts, and this outage was larger than previous incidents, including a June blackout that affected 350,000 customers and another in August that left 700,000 without power after Hurricane Ernesto.
By Tuesday night, power had been restored to over 336,000 people, including 16 hospitals and the island’s water and sewer company, although Luma’s website tracking outages was down. Luma acknowledged the frustration caused by the outage, especially on New Year’s Eve, and apologized for the disruption.
Governor-elect Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon, set to take office on January 2, has called for the establishment of an “energy czar” to investigate potential breaches of contract by Luma while seeking a new operator. She emphasized the need for a reliable energy system. Governor Pedro Pierluisi stated that he was in contact with Luma and Genera PR, demanding answers and solutions.
President Joe Biden also spoke with Pierluisi about the situation and offered federal assistance, instructing Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to provide any necessary support for restoring power. The outage led to the closure of businesses, parks, and malls, while the government implemented limited schedules for some agencies. Workers were dispatched to check on bedridden patients and distribute ice to help keep insulin cold for diabetics.
