Puerto Rico Blackout Highlights Need for Grid Modernization
A massive power outage plunged nearly all of Puerto Rico into darkness on December 31st, 2024, affecting over 1.2 million customers. The outage, caused by a failure in an electric line at the Costa Sur power plant, triggered a cascading effect across the island’s grid. Luma Energy, the island’s electricity transmission and distribution company, restored power to approximately 98% of affected customers by Wednesday afternoon, though full restoration may take up to two days. The incident highlights the ongoing fragility of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid, a persistent problem exacerbated by Hurricane Maria in 2017.
John Q. Hosedrinker