The blackout began early Tuesday morning, leaving San Juan's traffic lights out and numerous buildings powerless. Residents faced a daunting wait for restoration of service, which Luma Energy estimates could take as long as 48 hours. Some areas received power back within the morning, including the municipal hospital, but the overall response has been met with exasperation.
Political leaders, including Jenniffer González-Colon, the incoming governor, expressed the need for systemic change. González-Colon stressed the importance of an energy system that can support the population consistently. Current governor Pedro Pierluisi joined the chorus demanding accountability from power companies Luma and Genera.
Historical context to this problem reveals that substantial power failures have plagued Puerto Rico for years; major outages in June and after Hurricane Ernesto in August left hundreds of thousands without power. Residents like Enid Núñez lament the frequency of these outages, which have become a normal part of life.
Compounded by the lingering effects of Hurricane Maria and insufficient infrastructure recovery efforts, the power grid's vulnerability continues to be a concern. Despite considerable funding from the US government for recovery projects, progress has been hampered by bureaucratic challenges as noted by the US Government Accountability Office.
Mark Levine, Manhattan's borough president, echoed the sentiment of responsibility toward Puerto Rico, highlighting that they deserve better from a system that has been allowed to fail consistently. As the island begins the New Year, it remains uncertain how long the repair efforts will take and how soon residents can hope for a reliable power source.
Political leaders, including Jenniffer González-Colon, the incoming governor, expressed the need for systemic change. González-Colon stressed the importance of an energy system that can support the population consistently. Current governor Pedro Pierluisi joined the chorus demanding accountability from power companies Luma and Genera.
Historical context to this problem reveals that substantial power failures have plagued Puerto Rico for years; major outages in June and after Hurricane Ernesto in August left hundreds of thousands without power. Residents like Enid Núñez lament the frequency of these outages, which have become a normal part of life.
Compounded by the lingering effects of Hurricane Maria and insufficient infrastructure recovery efforts, the power grid's vulnerability continues to be a concern. Despite considerable funding from the US government for recovery projects, progress has been hampered by bureaucratic challenges as noted by the US Government Accountability Office.
Mark Levine, Manhattan's borough president, echoed the sentiment of responsibility toward Puerto Rico, highlighting that they deserve better from a system that has been allowed to fail consistently. As the island begins the New Year, it remains uncertain how long the repair efforts will take and how soon residents can hope for a reliable power source.
