Governor may veto bill that repeals $300 fee for solar systems

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón signaled Wednesday that she may veto legislation that would eliminate the $300 fee for load studies required before connecting solar energy systems to the grid.

The deadline for signing House Joint Resolution 193 midnight Wednesday. The measure directs LUMA Energy to immediately stop charging for supplementary studies and network upgrades for systems up to 25 kilowatts, as mandated under Regulation No. 8915.

In a radio interview with NotiUno, González Colón said the proposal raises concerns about grid stability and cost allocation.

“The reason for that study is to ensure the system can handle additional connections,” she said. “If we keep adding systems without proper analysis, the grid could collapse.”

While acknowledging that the $300 fee “was excessive,” the governor questioned who would ultimately bear the cost if the requirement is removed.

“Will other users pay for this? Could it trigger challenges under PROMESA?” the governor said, referring to the federal law overseeing Puerto Rico’s fiscal plan. “These are decisions that cannot be taken lightly.”

González Colón emphasized that she supports the intent of the legislation but must review whether the measure underwent proper legislative scrutiny.

“I would like to sign it,” she said. “But I need to ensure there was analysis on who pays and how this affects Puerto Rico’s energy transition.”

The resolution is part of broader efforts to accelerate solar adoption on the island, where renewable energy advocates argue that high interconnection costs have slowed progress toward clean energy goals.