Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Luma Energy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Puerto Rico House approves resolution criticizing LUMA Energy, urges steps toward contract termination
Summary
After extended floor debate on Aug. 19, 2024, the Puerto Rico House approved House Resolution 1192 censuring LUMA Energy’s management, citing outages and slow restoration after recent storms and calling for accountability and exploration of alternatives to the current contract.
The Puerto Rico House of Representatives voted Aug. 19 to approve a resolution criticizing the island’s private transmission and distribution operator, LUMA Energy, after lawmakers described widespread service interruptions and slow restoration following recent weather events.
House Resolution 1192 was discussed at length during a special session called by House leadership. Lawmakers from multiple parties recounted constituent complaints, named towns and neighborhoods still without reliable service days after the storm, and said repeated requests for information from LUMA went unanswered or were inadequate. The chamber approved the resolution by voice vote.
Why it matters: Legislators said the resolution signals the House’s support for pursuing contract remedies and stronger oversight of the UMA/LUMA arrangement. Members described health‑care facilities, elderly residents and schools affected by outages and urged the executive branch and oversight agencies to act to protect public welfare.
Key claims and examples: Multiple representatives cited specific operational failures — delayed brigades, fallen poles not addressed promptly, and communities waiting days without power or water. Lawmakers referenced available federal reconstruction funds and questioned why restoration remained incomplete despite large federal allocations for the electric system’s recovery.
What lawmakers requested: The chamber previously directed (by petition earlier in the session) several agencies to supply data within five working days, including the Department of Economic Development and the Office of Socioeconomic Development. Representatives urged immediate administrative and legal reviews of LUMA’s contractual compliance and discussed starting formal cancellation processes if breaches are proven.
Outcome and next steps: The House approved the resolution (House Res. 1192) by voice vote. The adopted text registers the chamber’s rejection of LUMA’s operational performance and recommends pursuing contract remedies and reinforced oversight. The resolution itself does not unilaterally cancel the contract; members said the executive branch and relevant authorities would need to pursue any termination or legal remedies.
