Background Research

Over the course of our class, we have researched multiple parts of Puerto Rico’s electricity crisis ranging from learning about the infrastructure, to researching the impacts in coastal towns, to contacting over 200 Puerto Ricans to receive first-hand information on the state of the electricity.

Puerto Rican Opinions

To better understand the situation, we compiled responses from those who currently live in Puerto Rico through a Google Form.

You can view the survey here and the responses here.

*Note: This is a copy of the original Google Form to avoid messing with the original responses.

<- Image: Polanco, Carlos Edill Berr&iacute;os. “Puerto Ricans March down ‘Las Américas’ Freeway to Protest Luma Energy.” Latino Rebels, Latino Rebels, 18 Oct. 2021, www.latinorebels.com/2021/10/17/puertoricoprotestlumaenergylasamericas/.

Quotes from Puerto Ricans:

“My kid’s school does not have a generator so they have had to be sent home several times because of power outages.” 

“La inestabilidad de la electricidad ocasiona que pierda horas de trabajo cada vez que la luz se va, ya que dependo de herramientas tecnológicas como computadoras, tabletas e Internet.”

“La comunidad se ha visto afectada ya que ocasionan que muchos residentes (muchas veces empresarios pequeños) tengan que salir de la Isla, lo que ocasiona cierre de negocios y de oportunidades, por los estragos causados por los desastres naturales y porque no tienen los medios para recuperarse. ” 

Current State of the Grid

There are two main players in the electricity grid of Puerto Rico: the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority(PREPA) and LUMA Energy (LUMA). PREPA, also known as Autoridad de Energia Electrica (AEE) is a government agency that owns the electricity transmission and distribution systems. In June 2020 PREPA contracted LUMA to work on modernizing the electrical infrastructure of Puerto Rico. However, this is extremely difficult due to the fact that in 2017 PREPA declared bankruptcy and is in $9 billion dollars of debt. 

<- Image: David Ferris, Peter Behr. “Lots of Talk, Little Action on Remaking Puerto Rico’s Grid.” E&E News by POLITICO, 10 Dec. 2021, www.eenews.net/articles/lots-of-talk-little-action-on-remaking-puerto-ricos-grid/.

Puerto Rico’s electricity consumption is 70 times more than the energy it produces so where is this energy coming from3? Currently, petroleum is about 60% of the energy consumption and generates about 37% of the electricity consumed. From July 2021 to June 2022 the main source of electricity was Puerto Rico’s natural gas-fired power plants generating a total of 43% of the island’s electricity3. Puerto Rico is currently trying to implement more renewable energy sources. Solar installations have increased by 56,000 in July of 2021 and is the fastest growing renewable energy source increasing from 0.5% to 1.7% in 6 years3,6.

Image: “What to Do in San Juan, Puerto Rico’s Colourful Capital.” National Geographic, 6 Feb. 2020, -> www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel/2020/01/what-do-san-juan. 

One of the main reasons that the electricity grid fails during natural disasters is the sheer distance. The majority of the population in Puerto Rico live in the northern area of the island, especially in San Juan, the capital with a population of 325k people. However, PREPA’s largest plants are in the south. This means that the system is “dependent on its 2,600 miles of transmission and about 32,000 miles of distribution lines”3.

<-Image: Luma My Account, miluma.lumapr.com/outages/serviceStatus. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

The prices for electricity are exceedingly high. According to the Guardian the average monthly cost of energy for Puerto Ricans is $438.21, while in the states it is $169.494. This is 259% increase from the states to Puerto Rico.

According to Luma’s website as of November 28th, 2023 there are 1,265 clients without electricity.5

According to the Department of Energy “Puerto Rico experienced rolling blackouts 570 times more frequently than the North American average6“.

Industry Experience

Why do manufacturers stay?

Puerto Rico has less taxes and a smaller government to influence. Moreover, it is more costly to relocate.

How do companies deal with outages?

Companies generally try to remain in business by running off of generators. Unfortunately, it is difficult for smaller businesses to keep up with the high costs. Moreover, some manufacturers are prioritized to receive power after outages

What is currently being done?

Puerto Rico passed the Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act in 2019, a plan to use 100% renewable energy by 2050

Manufacturers are purchasing more generators to be self-sufficient in power

Pharmaceutical companies shipped thousands of generators to employees and provided childcare for months

Medicine and Hurricanes

<- Image: Published: Mar 16, 2018. “Health Centers in Puerto Rico: Operational Status after Hurricane Maria.” KFF, 16 Mar. 2018, www.kff.org/medicaid/fact-sheet/health-centers-in-puerto-rico-operational-status-after-hurricane-maria/.

President Dr.Carlos Diaz Velez, the Physicians and Surgeons Association of Puerto Rico President, attests that not only is the blackout affecting the day-to-day lives of Puerto Ricans but is “also a matter of life and death for thousands of people who depend on electricity to power medical equipment”7. This ranges from elderly people needing elevators to oxygen machines and refrigerators for insulin. 

On March 16, 2018, seven months after Hurricane Maria, all health centers in Puerto Rico were open yet some still lacked power. In fact, “1 in 10 of permanent health center sites [had]  limited or no grid power”9. Out of this 11%, 3% rely on generators for backup while 5% more rely solely on generators as their electricity source9. Image accurate as of March 13, 2018 

Schools

Schools in Puerto Rico are heavily affected by the politics and infrastructure of the island. For example in Salinas, Puerto Rico2:

2017 – Hurricane Maria

“Image Editor Configuration.” Docs (Product), www.brightspot.com/documentation/brightspot-cms-developer-guide/latest/image-editor-configuration. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Students missed an average of four months of classes 

2019 – Series of Earthquakes

“Live Updates: Puerto Rico Earthquake.” CNN, Cable News Network, 7 Jan. 2020, www.cnn.com/us/live-news/puerto-rico-earthquake-01-07-2020/index.html.

Affected schools closed for three months

2020 – COVID 19

Golden, Lester. “Conservative Symbols: Time for an Accurate Update.” Medium, An Idea (by Ingenious Piece), 9 Sept. 2021, medium.com/an-idea/conservative-symbols-time-for-an-accurate-update-3fe53a4298d.

Students had to switch to virtual learning however only approximately 40% of students in Puerto Rico have internet access at home1

2022 – Hurricane Fiona

Miller, Susan, and Jorge L. Ortiz. “Hurricane Fiona Makes Landfall on Puerto Rico’s Southwest Coast after Triggering an Island-Wide Power Blackout.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 19 Sept. 2022, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/09/18/hurricane-fiona-puerto-rico-projected-path/10419252002/.

Schools closed for two weeks 

In 2022, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, there was a significant gap in the schooling of Puerto Rican versus mainland students. 36% of fourth-graders and 26% of eighth-graders in the states were “proficient” in math while in Puerto Rico the percentage was so low it rounded to zero2. This showed that students in Puerto Rico were not getting the education they deserved and that something had to be done about it. 

References
  1. Puerto Rico Department of Education – Departamento de Educación, de.pr.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/prde-telework-home-broadband-internet-rfi7-3-2020.pdf. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.
  2. Cardoza, Kavitha. “In the 6th-Largest U.S. District, Natural Disasters Have Disrupted Schooling for Years.” NPR, NPR, 17 Aug. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/08/16/1193722562/puerto-rico-schools-education#:~:text=Kavitha%20Cardoza-,In%20the%206th%2Dlargest%20U.S.%20district%2C%20natural%20disasters,have%20disrupted%20schooling%20for%20years&text=Retamal%2FGetty%20Images-,View%20of%20a%20damaged%20classroom%20in%20a%20school%20in%20Toa,schooling%20for%20Puerto%20Rico%27s%20children.
  3. “Puerto Rico Territory Energy Profile.” Puerto Rico Profile, www.eia.gov/state/print.php?sid=RQ#:~:text=Fossil%20fuels%20provide%20about%2097,fired%20power%20plant%20about%2017%25. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.
  4. “Puerto Rico’s Soaring Cost of Living, from Giant Electric Bills to $5 Cornflakes.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 12 July 2015, www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/12/puerto-rico-cost-of-living#:~:text=The%20average%20monthly%20cost%20of,the%20high%20price%20of%20electricity.
  5. Luma My Account, miluma.lumapr.com/outages/serviceStatus. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.
  6. Walton, Robert. “Doe Makes $450m Available for Residential Solar, Battery Systems in Puerto Rico.” Utility Dive, 1 Aug. 2023, www.utilitydive.com/news/Biden-450-million-doe-solar-battery-systems-in-puerto-rico/689524/.
  7. Star, The San Juan Daily. “Physicians: Power Blackouts Are a Matter of Life or Death at Hospitals & for Patients at Home.” San Juan Daily Star, San Juan Daily Star, 26 Aug. 2022, www.sanjuandailystar.com/post/physicians-power-blackouts-are-a-matter-of-life-or-death-at-hospitals-for-patients-at-home.
  8. Published: Mar 16, 2018. “Health Centers in Puerto Rico: Operational Status after Hurricane Maria.” KFF, 16 Mar. 2018, www.kff.org/medicaid/fact-sheet/health-centers-in-puerto-rico-operational-status-after-hurricane-maria/.
  9. Published: Mar 16, 2018. “Health Centers in Puerto Rico: Operational Status after Hurricane Maria.” KFF, 16 Mar. 2018, www.kff.org/medicaid/fact-sheet/health-centers-in-puerto-rico-operational-status-after-hurricane-maria/.
  10. “In the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Efforts to Rebuild Puerto Rico’s Electrical System Offer Lessons for Boosting Energy Security.” Ensia, 13 Aug. 2019, ensia.com/articles/electrical-production-hurricane-maria-puerto-rico-energy-security-resilience/.Gjelten, Tom. “In Puerto Rico, Generators Divide Those with and Those Without.” NPR, NPR, 15 Oct.
  11. 2017, www.npr.org/2017/10/15/557934009/in-puerto-rico-generators-divide-those-with-and-those-without.