Genera PR says restored generation capacity averted planned load shedding
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
Genera PR restored enough generation capacity to stabilize Puerto Rico’s electric system and avoid load‑shedding on Monday, after bringing several units back online that had been out of service for repairs, the company said.
Iván Báez, vice president of Government and Public Affairs at Genera PR, told reporters that the operator moved quickly after LUMA Energy warned that limited generation could trigger rotating outages. Báez said Genera had already coordinated the temporary removal of the Aguirre unit over the weekend and returned it to service Monday afternoon. The Costa Azul unit, which suffered a forced outage Sunday, was also restored later that night.
“With those units back, we recovered the generation level,” Báez said, noting that the additional capacity strengthened system reliability at a time when demand is rising due to summer heat.
Báez credited the improvements to work carried out over the past year to reinforce Puerto Rico’s generation fleet. “Last year we added 1,200 megawatts of generation to the system, which prevented the daily blackouts LUMA was announcing,” he said.
He added that Genera continues to advance modernization projects in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, including repairs expected to add more than 600 megawatts of additional capacity in 2026. “This demonstrates the work Genera is doing to increase reliability and generation capacity,” he said.
Báez also revealed that a new unit will come online this week, adding another 100 megawatts. “We’re on the right track. Failures or temporary outages can always occur, but Genera’s mission remains increasing generation capacity,” he said.
Looking ahead to the summer months, Báez emphasized that maintaining enough units in service is essential to meet higher electricity consumption. “The important thing is having sufficient units available. Demand tends to increase, and Genera, along with other private generators, will be able to provide that service,” he said.
He also highlighted the impact of federal investments aimed at strengthening Puerto Rico’s energy infrastructure. Battery projects will add 430 megawatts, while new peaker units will contribute another 244 megawatts. “Most of the batteries have already arrived and work is underway. We’re moving forward with the responsibility of increasing generation capacity,” he said.
Báez noted that Genera’s efforts have been recognized by Moody’s and the U.S. Department of Energy, citing increased generation capacity and $144 million invested in roughly 15 projects to reinforce the island’s electric system.