Puerto Rico faces power outages within range, causing anger among officials – National
After the blackout hit the entire island, crew members scrambled to restore Puerto Rico's electricity, affecting major international airports, hospitals and hotels filled with Easter holidaymakers.
The power outage that began at noon Wednesday left 1.4 million customers without electricity and water without more than 400,000. By Thursday afternoon, more than 826,600 customers (or 56%) had electricity, while 83% had water back. Officials expect 90% of customers to restore power within 48 to 72 hours after the power outage.
“It’s a shame for the people of Puerto Rico, and we have a problem with this range,” said Governor Jenniffer González, who shortened her week-long vacation Wednesday night and returned to Puerto Rico.
She said it would take at least three days to get preliminary information about the causes of the power outage, which could lead to traffic, forcing hundreds of businesses to shut down, leaving those who can't afford the generators scramble to buy ice and candles.
“There is still a long road to recovery,” she said. “Our system is very fragile.”
This is the second massive power outage that hit Puerto Rico in less than four months, the eve of the previous one.
Government under pressure to cancel contracts for energy companies
“Why on holiday?” José Luis Richardson grabbed, without a generator and splashed water on himself every few hours to keep calm.
The roar of the roar of smoke and smoke from the increasing number of Puerto Ricans called on the government to cancel contracts with Luma Energy, which oversees the transmission and distribution of electricity, as well as the PR genera of electricity generation.
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Gonzalez promised to listen to the calls.
“It's not a question or a question,” she said, but added that it's not a quick process. “Our failure is unacceptable.”
Gonzalez said a massive power outage like Wednesday would result in an estimated $230 million in loss of revenue per day.
Ramón C, president of the Joint Retail Center, a nonprofit organization representing small and medium-sized enterprises. Barquín III warned that the ongoing power outages could scare potential investors at a time when Puerto Rico is in urgent need of economic development.
“We will not be able to continue repeating this blackout cycle without specific measures to strengthen our energy infrastructure,” he said.
Many are also concerned about the elderly population of Puerto Rico, while the mayor of Cannovanas deployed brigades to visit bedridden people and those relying on electronic medical devices.
Meanwhile, Mayor Vega Alta opened a center that provides electricity to those with life-saving equipment.
Wednesday night is hard for many, including the 62-year-old Santos Bone Burger.
“I spend it on the balcony,” he said, adding that he was trying to get fresh air.
At some point, he fell asleep, recalling waking up at 5 a.m. and shouting to his neighbors, “The power is back!”
Among those who can’t fall asleep, 50-year-old house cleaner Dorca Navarrete said it was too hot.
“Last night was terrible.” “I woke up with a headache.”
When she opened her eyes, she saw the light and thought it would be impossible for the sun to be that time. Then, a smile appeared on her face as she realized it was the light left from the room the day before.
What causes the power outage?
It is not clear what caused the closure, the latest in a series of major power outages on the island in recent years.
Josen Cologne, former executive director of the island’s energy cabinet, said a possibility of vegetation affecting the grid, and if it is not right, the grid should not happen.
He noted that authorities flew in to check certain lines every day, and he said Luma should do what he should do.
Cologne said Luma also needs to explain why all generators are shut down after the transmission system fails, and only one person should enter protected mode.
Luma engineer Pedro Meléndez said an investigation is underway. He said at a press conference Thursday that he did not immediately elaborate on the company's last aviation patrol, but said that these happened at the frequency of the contract being established.
Daniel Hernández, vice president of operations at PR, said Wednesday that there was a riot shortly after noon, when the grid was easily vulnerable because there were few machines adjusting the frequency.
Puerto Rico has struggled with a chronic power outage since September 2017, when Hurricane Maria hit the island with a powerful Category 4 storm, emitting a power grid that the crew is still working to rebuild.
The grid has deteriorated due to the lack of maintenance and investment in the state's power authority, and the company is working to restructure $9 billion in debt.
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