Puerto Rico Considers Dropping Its Power Grid Manager After Widespread Blackout

Following a wide powerfulness outage that deed Puerto Rico past week, section officials are awaiting a detailed explanation from Luma Energy, nan backstage institution responsible for transmitting and distributing energy crossed nan U.S. territory. The blackout, which began connected April 16, affected astir 1.4 cardinal customers and near much than 400,000 different residents without entree to water.

How are officials addressing nan aftermath of nan blackout?

Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón, R, stated that Puerto Rico presently has nary backup powerfulness procreation capacity and is urging nan nationalist to reduce power usage successful nan aftermath of this incident. González-Colón has besides announced nan statement of 2 caller subcommittees tasked pinch determining what actions should beryllium taken against Luma Energy arsenic a consequence of this incident.

One of nan precocious formed subcommittees will assistance successful auditing nan company’s statement pinch nan island, while nan different will statesman identifying imaginable replacement powerfulness providers should Puerto Rico determine to extremity its statement pinch Luma.

When asked whether this outage unsocial could warrant terminating nan company’s contract, González-Colón said Luma had marketed itself to nan authorities arsenic an master but “the cognition of expertise has proven to beryllium false.”

How has Luma responded to nan outage?

In a statement, Luma Energy said it remains focused connected rebuilding Puerto Rico’s powerfulness grid and fulfilling its contractual responsibilities. The institution has been fixed 5 days to explicate why nan transmission statement failed, and to explain whether regular inspections had been decently conducted.

“We stay committed to transparency and will proceed to pass our customers and nan nationalist arsenic soon arsenic we person confirmed information,” Luma said.

What whitethorn person caused this blackout?

According to The Associated Press, a preliminary study from Luma indicates that nan nonaccomplishment whitethorn person been caused by overgrown vegetation. However, authorities person besides pointed to nan nonaccomplishment of protective instrumentality arsenic a contributing factor. Authorities described nan incident arsenic a “cascade event” that resulted successful nan illness of nan transmission system.

What happens next?

In summation to Luma’s soul review, nan Puerto Rican authorities has launched its ain independent investigation to comparison findings pinch nan company’s report.

Luma said it is continuing to show nan territory’s electrical grid successful accordance pinch manufacture standards and will stock further accusation arsenic it becomes available.