By The Star Staff
LUMA Energy announced Thursday that the transformer taken to Santa Isabel that would have helped bring power back to several southern towns failed during testing, a revelation that stirred public outrage.
Since June 9, LUMA Energy, the private operator of the island’s electric power transmission and distribution system, said it has taken a series of specific measures to ensure that customers in Santa Isabel, Coamo and Aibonito have reliable electrical service.
“We implemented our plan to replace the Santa Isabel transformer, which included a contingency plan in case the initial replacement transformer failed key safety and reliability tests,” the operator said. “The company’s specialized substation personnel tested the replacement transformer before and after transportation, following industry-standard processes and protocols.”
“After successfully energizing the transformer and during subsequent testing required on-site before connecting it to the grid, the equipment failed due to an internal problem,” LUMA added.
Although service to customers in Santa Isabel, Coamo and Aibonito will not be affected, “we cannot put into service a transformer that failed such important tests,” the operator said.
“As we have said over the past month, we will continue with our contingency plan, which includes the relocation of an alternate transformer from Maunabo,” LUMA said.
Service to area customers will not be affected for the next four to six weeks while the replacement transformer is installed and tested for safety and reliability, the company reiterated.
“In addition, we will continue working on the reconstruction of lines 100 and 200, which will increase the reliability of service for customers in the area,” LUMA said.
Coamo Mayor Juan Carlos García Padilla has urgently demanded that federal and state authorities, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia, the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau, LUMA, and PREPA work together to resolve the situation as soon as possible.
“The president of LUMA [announced] that the transformer did not pass the required tests and that it will be necessary to bring another transformer from Maunabo. This will take six more weeks of agony for our residents and we are not willing to accept it,” the mayor insisted. “We can’t take it anymore, Coamo is the town most affected by the voltage variations that have impacted everyone. I am demanding that you come together and act responsibly so that this situation is resolved. We are not going to wait six more weeks. This is unacceptable.”
García Padilla reiterated that time has proven him right and that the construction of lines 100 and 200 that he proposed from the beginning in this emergency is totally necessary.
The situation impacts thousands of residents in the three towns.
Santa Isabel Mayor Rafael Burgos Santiago also rejected waiting an additional six weeks for a new transformer after the one installed at the Useras substation proved defective.
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