SAN JUAN — The House of Representatives' energy committee announced a follow‑up public hearing for 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, asking Genera PR to explain progress on plant repairs, federal reimbursements and contracting after a June site visit in which the company said it expected to increase capacity.
Jesús Hernández, chair of the House Committee on Economic Development, Planning, Telecommunications, Public‑Private Partnerships and Energy, said the committee formally cited engineer D'Altaniel Hernández, vice president of operations at Genera PR, and Iván Báez, vice president of government and public affairs, to appear. "Esperamos que este próximo viernes trece de septiembre a las diez de la mañana puedan llegar a la cámara de representantes para hablar de varios puntos," Hernández said, announcing the summons.
Why it matters: The committee is seeking clarity after recent load‑shedding events and operational shortfalls that left thousands of residents without power. During the June 12 site visit, Genera reported several units under repair — cited in committee remarks as San Juan unit 7, Palo Seco unit 3 and Costa Sur unit 5 — and told legislators those works would add about 500 megawatts to the system. Hernández said the island's reported generation capacity at that time was "dos mil setecientos treinta y tres megawatts." He and committee members pressed for an updated status on those repairs.
Federal funding and reimbursements: Hernández reviewed figures the committee received in June about federally backed projects and reimbursements: approximately $1,972 million in total projects, with roughly $1,998.52 million noted as already approved and about $973.48 million still awaiting FEMA approval. "Se había solicitado el reembolso del ochenta y dos por ciento de los costos incurridos," he said, summarizing the company's prior submission to the committee.
Documentation and contracts: The committee has requested audited documentation and supplemental records, including details on services provided by the law firm Vásquez y Vilanova and records related to PPP contracts referenced in the Sept. 3 committee letter. Hernández told reporters the House expects the company to deliver the materials by Sept. 10 and that questions will continue at the hearing.
Public impacts and timing: Committee members tied the ongoing generation shortfalls to recent weather events, including Tropical Storm Ernesto, and warned the outages have had acute effects on vulnerable residents who depend on medical devices. Hernández emphasized ensuring reliable power for upcoming elections after voting centers experienced blackouts during the primaries.
Next steps: The committee will use the Sept. 13 hearing to press Genera PR for updated repair timelines, details on FEMA approvals and a full accounting of contracts and expenditures. No formal vote or regulatory action was announced at the session; the event was framed as an oversight hearing to collect information and determine follow‑up measures.
Reported by: Transcript of the committee announcement; quotes and figures drawn from the committee's public remarks.