House panel requests data from LUMA related to blackout

By The Star Staff

Rep. Víctor Parés Otero, chairman of the Government Committee in the island House of Representatives, said Wednesday he would be sending a request for information to LUMA Energy LLC, the company in charge of Puerto Rico’s electricity transmission and distribution network, regarding the total blackout that occurred last week.

In a letter sent to the LUMA President and CEO Juan Saca, the San Juan District 4 lawmaker said “as part of the responsible and transparent oversight work carried out by the Government Committee [...] on the reconstruction and modernization of the energy transmission and distribution infrastructure, we are evaluating the chronology and failures in backup platforms, among others, associated with the total interruption of electrical service that occurred at 12:38 p.m. on April 16, 2025.”

Among the required documentation is the Vegetation Clearance Plan for the six regions that make up the transmission and distribution network, as well as the funds allocated by region and a detail of the disbursements related to those items, all original cost estimates submitted by LUMA Energy to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as those approved by that federal agency for, but not limited to, the maintenance and replacement of substations, internal and external cabling, feeders, switches and telecommunications equipment, and all contracts awarded by LUMA Energy since 2021, by service regions, for the removal of vegetative material.

“It is imperative that this information be received by our Committee within the next 10 calendar days, without excuse,” Parés stated in the letter.