The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) renewed emergency orders for Puerto Rico’s power system through Feb. 5, 2027, citing persistent reliability problems on a grid serving 3.2 million people.
DOE issued the two orders Nov. 6 under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act. They take effect Nov. 8. The generation order directs the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) and its agents to operate specified units when needed to address reliability risks.
The transmission order covers vegetation and asset management on designated facilities and sets a requirement to clear at least 400 additional miles of rights-of-way at 38-, 115- and 230-kilovolt levels by Feb. 5. DOE reported that 2,186 miles of transmission and distribution lines had been cleared as of Oct. 22. If PREPA and its agents cannot meet the target, PREPA must report to DOE the measures taken and planned.
PREPA must send DOE reports every two weeks on the operating dates of covered units. By Dec. 8, it must provide the manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule for each unit, how many hours and for how long each unit has operated since its last maintenance, and a plan for carrying out the recommended work.
DOE cited unstable reserves and widespread blackouts, as well as multiple rounds of load shedding that it said affected at least 50,000 customers. LUMA Energy, the grid operator, said in a Sept. 4 filing with the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau that its three previous annual reports showed a generation deficit of 700 megawatts to 850 megawatts. LUMA attributed system pressure to forced outages, deferred maintenance and hot-weather demand above forecasts.
DOE traces the grid’s deterioration to long-standing maintenance delays, the bankruptcy of its owner and operator, and hurricane and earthquake damage. The agency identifies residents, health care, industry, commerce and telecommunications as among those at risk from power disruptions. The orders do not assign the cost of the work or report a reduction in outages.
DOE’s order history says the emergency sequence began May 16, 2025, and earlier renewals also covered 90-day periods. PREPA’s unit-maintenance information is due Dec. 8; the current orders and clearing target run through Feb. 5, 2027.
