Puerto Rico Plunged into Darkness: Energy Crisis Strikes Again

Puerto Rico faced another power outage on New Year's Eve, affecting nearly the entire island. While electricity was gradually restored, the outage highlighted ongoing infrastructure issues. The incident was attributed to a failure in an underground line, sparking frustration and calls for energy reforms and better management.

On New Year's Eve, Puerto Rico faced widespread darkness due to a grid failure, leaving nearly the entire island without electricity. Efforts were underway to restore power, with LUMA Energy reporting that around 58% of clients were still without power by 9 p.m. local time, down from 90% earlier.

LUMA Energy anticipated it would take 24 to 48 hours to fully restore electricity, with essential services like hospitals already reconnected. An investigation pointed to a failure in an underground line as a potential cause. The incident has intensified criticism of the island's aging power infrastructure and management.

Governor Pedro Pierluisi urged energy companies to expedite repairs and provide updates to residents. The blackout dampened New Year's celebrations, evoking memories of past outages and generating public demand for reform. Incoming Governor Jenniffer González announced plans for an energy task force to address persistent blackouts.

(With inputs from agencies.)