Puerto Rico experienced a widespread power outage on Wednesday, impacting the entire island as residents anticipated the Easter holiday.
A spokesperson for the entity responsible for power transmission and distribution in the U.S. territory reported to The Associated Press that all 1.4 million customers were affected, including the main international airport and numerous hospitals. Water service was disrupted for at least 328,000 customers.
By Wednesday, power had been restored to only about 175,000 customers, representing 12% of the total.
With hotels nearing full capacity due to Easter vacationers, officials moved to reassure tourists that many hotels and businesses were using generators.
Gov. Jenniffer González expressed her frustration on X, acknowledging the widespread impact of the blackout. She emphasized her commitment to addressing the crisis and cut her vacation short to return to Puerto Rico.
The cause of the outage remains unclear, marking the latest in a series of significant power failures on the island in recent years.
A previous blackout in December left nearly 1.3 million residents without power as they prepared for New Year’s Eve.
The governor promised to terminate the contract with Luma, but cautioned that finding replacements and analyzing the contract would take time.
González also called for a thorough investigation into the current blackout, highlighting previous warnings about insufficient power generation for the peak demand during the summer months.
“Puerto Rico can’t be the island where the power goes out all the time,” González said. “We’re going to take action. Let people have no doubts.”
Officials estimated that 90% of customers would have their power restored within 48 to 72 hours of the outage.
The latest blackout has sparked outrage among Puerto Ricans, leading to renewed calls for the government to cancel contracts with Luma and Genera PR, the power generation company.
Reggaeton artist Bad Bunny voiced his frustration on X, questioning when action would be taken.
Many people were forced to walk on an overpass alongside the rails of San Juan’s rapid transit system, and numerous businesses were forced to close.
Professional baseball and basketball games were canceled, while the sounds of generators and the smell of smoke pervaded the air. Traffic congestion increased, requiring police officers to direct traffic at busy intersections.
Residents without generators flocked to grocery stores and other businesses to purchase ice throughout Puerto Rico.
The island, with a population of 3.2 million, has a poverty rate exceeding 40%, making solar panels or generators unaffordable for many.
Approximately 117,000 homes and businesses on the island have solar rooftops. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, petroleum-fired power plants account for 62% of Puerto Rico’s power, natural gas for 24%, coal for 8%, and renewables for 7%.
Daniel Hernández, vice president of operations at Genera PR, stated at a press conference that a disturbance affected the transmission system shortly after noon on Wednesday, during a period when the grid is vulnerable due to a lack of frequency regulation.
Verónica Ferraiuoli, Puerto Rico’s acting governor and secretary of state, reported that the White House contacted local officials to offer assistance if needed.
Pablo José Hernández, Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, pledged to ensure that “Washington understands the real and urgent situation Puerto Ricans face every day.”
“The electric grid crisis is frustrating, and after years of blackouts, it feels like it’s going from bad to worse,” he said.