A major power outage on New Year’s Eve left nearly all of Puerto Rico without electricity, with officials estimating it could take up to 48 hours to fully restore service.
As of 9 p.m. Tuesday (0100 GMT), around 58% of customers remained without power, down from 90% earlier in the day, according to energy distribution company LUMA Energy. Puerto Rico, which has long struggled with chronic power outages due to its aging infrastructure, experienced yet another island-wide blackout that disrupted celebrations and daily life.
LUMA Energy stated that power had been restored to critical facilities, including Centro Médico and Municipal Hospital in San Juan, but warned it could take between 24 to 48 hours to fully restore electricity. Preliminary investigations pointed to a failure in an underground line as the likely cause of the outage.
“This incident is under investigation,” LUMA said in a statement.
The outage affected power plants operated by both Genera, the island’s power generator, and private suppliers, as the failed line disrupted their operations. Ivan Baez, a Genera spokesperson, noted that the issue stemmed from infrastructure managed by LUMA.
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi urged LUMA and Genera to expedite the restoration process. “They must bring generator units online quickly and keep the public informed about their progress,” he said on social media.
The blackout dampened New Year’s Eve festivities across the island, where family gatherings, fireworks, and traditional celebrations are customary.
“New Year’s Eve is about family reunions and celebrations, but this outage changes everything,” said Ramon Luis Nieves, a San Juan attorney and former senator. Nieves expressed frustration over the island’s ongoing power woes, which he attributed to years of neglect and underinvestment.
“This disaster has been more than a decade in the making,” he said, criticizing the aging power grid and lack of modernization efforts.
Such criticism is widespread in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory where residents, despite being American citizens, lack voting representation in Congress and cannot vote in presidential elections. Protesters have frequently called for the termination of LUMA’s contract to manage the island’s energy system.
In response to a previous protest in 2022, LUMA stated it had “inherited an electrical system that suffered years of neglect and disrepair.”
Jenniffer González, who assumes office as governor of Puerto Rico on Thursday, addressed the blackout on social media, announcing plans to form an energy task force.
“We cannot continue with an energy system that repeatedly fails our people,” González wrote. “Blackouts like this morning’s event undermine our economy and quality of life.”
Steven Pacheco, a former lineman visiting from Florida, echoed these concerns. “It’s exhausting to live in constant fear of when the next outage will occur,” he said.
As restoration efforts continue, residents remain on edge, grappling with an energy crisis that has become a defining issue for the island.
