A massive power outage hit Puerto Rico early Tuesday, leaving more than 1.3 million of the island's 1.47 million electricity customers in the dark as they prepared to celebrate New Year’s Eve. This blackout, which began around 5:30 a.m. local time, was attributed to a failure of an underground power line, according to Luma Energy, the private company responsible for the territory's power distribution.

By midday, only 13% of customers had power restored, with reports indicating that full restoration could take between 24 and 48 hours, depending on conditions. Governor Pedro Pierluisi stated that he was in contact with Luma and demanded answers regarding the outage. He described the situation as a “critical failure” of the island's power grid, which has been plagued with issues since it was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017.

The blackout coincided with many New Year's Eve celebrations, leaving people frustrated and in disbelief. "It had to be on the 31st of December!" exclaimed a local man named Manuel, as he stood outside a grocery store in San Juan, voicing his disappointment as the outage fell on his birthday. Similar sentiments echoed across the island as residents prepared for a night without power.

Some Puerto Ricans were quick to adapt; many had backup generators or small gas stoves to cope with the situation. Enid Núñez, 49, noted, "They’re part of my everyday life," referring to the frequent outages Puerto Ricans have faced over the years. This sentiment resonates throughout the island, where power maintenance has been an ongoing challenge.

The recent outage has reignited public outrage against Luma Energy and its counterpart, Genera PR, which manages electricity generation. Criticism has been mounting about how these entities manage Puerto Rico's aging grid, with calls for accountability now echoing from numerous local leaders, including the governor-elect, Jenniffer González-Colón, who has suggested appointing an "energy czar" to oversee the situation.

As Puerto Ricans await the restoration of power, the blackouts serve as a stark reminder of the fragile state of the electrical infrastructure and the urgent need for improvements to support a sustainable future.

For more information, visit The Independent.