Puerto Rico faces massive power outage, leaving over million customers in the dark on New Year’s Eve

Massive New Year’s Eve blackout disrupts Puerto Rico, affecting 80% of residents

Puerto Rico experienced a widespread power outage on December 31, 2024, affecting approximately 1.3 million customers, or 80% of the island’s population. The blackout began at 5:30 a.m. due to a fault in an underground cable at a power plant on the southern coast, according to energy company LUMA. The failure triggered a cascade effect, leading to outages at multiple power plants.

LUMA announced efforts to restore electricity in phases, estimating a full recovery within 24 to 48 hours, depending on conditions. Josué Colón, director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, explained in a radio interview that the fault caused widespread disruption, requiring much of the day to address. Governor Pedro Pierluisi expressed frustration, demanding accountability and faster solutions from both LUMA and private energy company Genera PR. “We are demanding answers and solutions... and urging measures to restore service throughout the island,” Pierluisi stated on X.

Daily life across the island was significantly disrupted. While Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan managed to maintain flight operations using generators, many businesses and homes were left in the dark. Residents faced challenges accessing essential services, highlighting the widespread impact of the outage.

Power outages are a recurring issue in Puerto Rico, where the aging power grid relies heavily on fossil fuels. Protests earlier this year over blackouts led to the U.S.-based Genera PR taking over power grid management from the government. Despite this transition, challenges persist. In August, Tropical Storm Ernesto left over 700,000 customers without power, underscoring the fragility of the island’s infrastructure.

The latest outage underscores the urgent need for modernization of Puerto Rico’s power system to prevent further disruptions and ensure reliable energy for its residents.