DOE extends emergency orders for Puerto Rico

By THE STAR STAFF

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has renewed two emergency orders aimed at reinforcing Puerto Rico’s electric grid ahead of the island’s peak demand season and potential storm threats.

Building on previous directives issued in May and August of this year, the latest orders authorize the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to continue dispatching essential generation units needed to sustain critical power capacity. The orders, which took effect Thursday, also accelerate vegetation management initiatives to prevent outages and enhance long-term grid reliability.

“Modernizing Puerto Rico’s energy grid is essential to achieving long-term reliability and affordability for the Commonwealth,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “Our team is working with local and federal partners to boost power generation and accelerate vegetation management efforts to strengthen Puerto Rico’s electrical grid. The Trump Administration is fully committed to delivering affordable, reliable and secure energy to all Americans.”

According to the DOE, its recent emergency actions have helped restore up to 820 megawatts (MW) of baseload generation capacity this year — a 13% increase in the island’s total generation capacity of 6,460 MW. With DOE funding, PREPA successfully brought a critical generation unit back online after being offline for over two years.

The emergency orders also focus on mitigating vegetation-related risks to high-voltage transmission lines — a leading cause of power outages and wildfire hazards during Puerto Rico’s frequent storms.

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón welcomed the renewal, emphasizing the tangible impact of the DOE’s 202(c) emergency measures.

“These orders have provided concrete benefits for Puerto Rico, allowing us to restore 1,200 MW of baseload generation capacity and perform critical vegetation control activities,” she said. “Maintaining these protocols will help stabilize our power system.”

The renewed emergency orders will remain in effect through Feb. 10, 2026. The DOE stated it will continue to coordinate closely with González Colón and local agencies to ensure reliable, secure power for Puerto Rico’s 3.2 million residents.