Power was restored to almost all electrical customers in Puerto Rico after a widespread blackout on New Year’s Eve, with 98% of customers having electricity back by Wednesday afternoon. The outage highlighted ongoing issues with the island’s electricity system, with the private company in charge warning of potential temporary outages in the coming days.
The blackout, which occurred due to a failure in an underground electric line, affected almost the entire archipelago as residents prepared to celebrate the New Year. Governor-elect Jenniffer González Colón urged residents to be conservative with their energy use to help reduce strain on the system as power plants were not yet running at full capacity.
Puerto Rico’s power grid has long been unreliable due to neglect and was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Frequent power outages have been a common occurrence, impacting daily life for residents. The recent blackout came as customers face an increase in electricity rates approved by the Energy Bureau, raising bills for the average household by nearly $20.
Despite the restoration of power, the company overseeing transmission and distribution warned that additional temporary outages may occur as the grid remains fragile. The incoming governor has promised to appoint an “energy czar” to oversee operations and address the ongoing challenges faced by the island’s power system.
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