Legislator reviews storm preparedness at Monacillos grid control center

House Government Committee Chairman Víctor Parés Otero inspected the facilities of the Monacillos Transmission Control Center this week with the objective of verifying that grid operator LUMA Energy is prepared to handle the impact of tropical storms and hurricanes.

By THE STAR STAFF

San Juan District 4 Rep. Víctor Parés Otero, who chairs the Government Committee in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, inspected the facilities of the Monacillos Transmission Control Center this week with the objective of verifying that LUMA Energy, the private operator of the island’s electricity transmission and distribution network, has the capabilities to handle the impact of tropical storms and hurricanes.

The lawmaker also reviewed the operation of the Monacillos substation in San Juan, the largest in Puerto Rico, and the remote digital surveillance center, essential to ensure the continuity of service, among other areas.

“As part of preparations for the Atlantic hurricane season, which began last Monday, we conducted an inspection of operations yesterday, Tuesday, at the Monacillos Transmission Control Center, the heart of Puerto Rico’s electrical transmission and distribution system,” Parés Otero said. “This visit aimed to ensure that all digital systems are operating optimally, that control platforms have backup equipment, and to evaluate contingency plans in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane.”

During the inspection, the operational status of the center’s ‘War Room’ was also evaluated. According to LUMA’s action plan, the restoration of the electrical system, in the event of a direct hit from a storm or hurricane, will include the replacement of transformers, circuit breakers, transmission structures (lines, poles, and towers), relays and fiber optic cables, among other components.

Regarding the transformers, some 197 are in the final phase of their useful life; of those, the operator has replaced 91.

“It is very important to ensure the safety of substations throughout the island, which is why we insist on inspecting the security systems at these facilities, including the digital security camera platforms,” Parés Otero said. “We observed that this equipment is functioning properly and has night vision capabilities, among other features. Its zoom mechanisms allow us to see even the keyhole in padlocks. The LUMA management assured us that they have a backup system in place to maintain the safety of these substations in the event of a direct impact from a storm.”

Those present during the inspection of the facilities and equipment included LUMA Energy President Janisse Quiñones, along with LUMA officials Michelle Fraley, director of corporate services and emergency management; Rebeca Maldonado, director of government affairs and public policy; Gary Soto, director of the energy transmission operations center; and Raphael Gignac, vice president of system operations, among others.