Puerto Rico's New Governor Appoints Energy Czar Josué Colón to Address Ongoing Power Crisis

Puerto Rico's governor has appointed an "energy czar" to address the ongoing power crisis. Josué Colón was nominated shortly after a major blackout affected nearly all of the island's 3.2 million residents. "Right now, we're in an emergency," stated Gov. Jenniffer González Colón. "Our electrical system is in such a precarious situation that anything can cause the power to go out."

Colón, currently leading Puerto Rico's Electric Power Authority, will leave his position if lawmakers approve his new role. He will oversee Genera PR and Luma Energy, responsible for power generation and distribution, respectively. The approval is anticipated soon.

Power Outages and Criticism

The December 31 blackout left over 2,500 customers without electricity, with Luma Energy working to resolve ongoing issues. Critics have urged the government to terminate contracts with the private companies managing the island's power supply.

Last year, Puerto Rico experienced a significant increase in power interruptions. The average duration per customer rose by nearly 20% to 1,432 minutes annually, far exceeding the benchmark of 102 minutes set by Puerto Rico's Energy Bureau.

Efforts to Secure Federal Funding

Gov. González Colón emphasised the need for federal funds to improve the grid. She noted that USD 18 billion allocated for grid repairs has not yet been released by the US government. Colón is expected to advocate for these funds.

The federal government has already provided millions to stabilise and rebuild the grid after Hurricane Maria in 2017. However, the grid was already vulnerable due to insufficient maintenance and investment before the storm struck.

"I want to not only send a message that we here are not going to be lenient with contracts made with Puerto Rico's government, but that we are going to ensure Puerto Rico has power," González told a news conference.

As investigations into the blackout continue, officials remain focused on addressing the island's energy challenges. The appointment of an energy czar is seen as a step towards resolving these persistent issues.