Puerto Rico woke up to darkness on New Year’s Eve as a severe power grid failure left nearly all of the island's residents without electricity. By 1 PM on Tuesday, around 87 percent of customers were still in the dark, according to real-time updates from Luma Energy (Reuters).

The energy distribution company indicated that it would take between 24 to 48 hours to restore power, condition permitting. Preliminary analyses suggest that the disruption stemmed from a failure in an underground line, a point highlighted by Luma Energy's spokesperson. This line, operated by Luma, impacted multiple power plants belonging to Genera, further straining the island’s frail energy infrastructure (SCMP).

In a statement, Ivan Baez, spokesperson for Genera, described the event as a “major incident.” Restoration efforts had initiated by 9:30 AM, with some critical facilities such as the Centro Medico and a municipal hospital in San Juan being prioritized for power reinstatement.

Pulled into the chaos were sentiments from local residents who reflected on the significance of New Year’s Eve, a typically festive occasion, now overshadowed by the outage. Ramon Luis Nieves, a lawyer residing in San Juan, lamented, “The power outage could mute celebrations this year.” His frustration echoes a broader discontent regarding Puerto Rico's chronic energy troubles.

Governor Pedro Pierluisi demanded immediate answers and solutions from Luma and Genera, emphasizing the necessity for speedy restoration of power services to the island. He joined voices with many who criticized the operators for years of underinvestment and neglect of the infrastructure, which has suffered from decades of deterioration.

This event serves as a reminder of the long-standing issues facing Puerto Rico's energy system, highlighted by the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, which devastated the island's already fragile infrastructure.

Public outcry continues, with calls to cancel contracts with Luma Energy, which critics argue has inherited an electrical system marked by years of neglect. The plight of Puerto Ricans remains prevalent as they confront these systemic failures in their power grid.

For further reading, access the full articles from Reuters and SCMP.