Puerto Rico hit with massive island-wide blackout ahead of Easter

Puerto Rico was hit by a massive island-wide blackout on Wednesday, leaving all 1.4 million customers without power. The blackout affected essential services such as the main international airport and several hospitals, leaving at least 328,000 customers without water. Only 12% of the customers had their power restored by Wednesday, causing chaos and frustration among residents.

Hotels were near capacity as thousands of tourists celebrated Easter vacations on the island. Tourism officials reassured visitors that many hotels and businesses were operating with generators. Governor Jenniffer González, who cut her vacation short and flew back to Puerto Rico, expressed her frustration, stating that the people of Puerto Rico deserve officials who respond in times of crisis.

The cause of the blackout was not immediately clear, but it was the latest in a series of major blackouts that have plagued the island in recent years. In December, another massive blackout left nearly 1.3 million residents without power as they prepared to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Governor González vowed to cancel the contract with Luma Energy, the company responsible for the transmission and distribution of power in Puerto Rico.

While government officials are analyzing the contract and looking for possible replacements, Governor González emphasized that it would not be a quick process. She also called for an in-depth investigation into the blackout and warned that there might not be enough power generation for the upcoming summer peak demand.

The latest blackout sparked anger among Puerto Ricans, with many calling for the cancellation of the contract with Luma and Genera PR, the company responsible for power generation on the island. Reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny expressed his frustration on social media, questioning when action would be taken to address the ongoing power issues.

The blackout forced many residents to walk on overpasses next to the rapid transit system’s rails, while businesses were forced to close. Professional sports games were canceled, and traffic congestion increased as police officers were deployed to busy intersections. Many people rushed to buy ice at grocery stores and businesses, with some unable to afford solar panels or generators due to the island’s high poverty rate.

Despite the challenges, Puerto Rico is making efforts to transition to renewable energy sources. Roughly 117,000 homes and businesses on the island have solar rooftops, and renewable energy accounts for 7% of the power supply. The island relies heavily on petroleum-fired power plants, natural gas, and coal for energy generation.

Officials explained that a disturbance in the transmission system caused the blackout, highlighting the vulnerability of the grid during certain hours. Puerto Rico’s acting governor, Verónica Ferraiuoli, stated that the White House reached out to offer assistance if needed. Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, Pablo José Hernández, pledged to work on ensuring that Washington understands the urgent situation faced by Puerto Ricans daily.

The electric grid crisis in Puerto Rico continues to worsen, with years of blackouts causing frustration and uncertainty among residents. As efforts are made to address the power issues on the island, the people of Puerto Rico are calling for swift and effective solutions to ensure a reliable and stable power supply.