LUMA, PDP mayors continue talks on public lighting crisis across PR
By THE STAR STAFF
The Puerto Rico Mayors Association and LUMA Energy have continued negotiations over a proposal that would allow municipalities to participate in the replacement and maintenance of thousands of damaged streetlights across Puerto Rico, as local leaders raised concerns about costs, staffing limitations and federal reimbursement requirements.
Mayors Association President and Jayuya Mayor Jorge “Georgie” González Otero led a recent meeting with LUMA officials and several mayors to discuss possible agreements aimed at addressing the ongoing public lighting crisis affecting roads and rural communities throughout the island.
At the center of the discussions are streetlights damaged by Hurricane Maria and eligible for reconstruction funding through the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“It is certainly a complicated situation, and what we are looking for is a formula that is realistic and viable to implement,” González said.
Several mayors argued that the terms proposed by LUMA would place an excessive burden on municipalities while addressing only a portion of the island’s lighting infrastructure needs.
Ponce Mayor Marlese Sifre Rodríguez said the proposal, as currently structured, is neither practical nor cost-effective for local governments.
“Under the current conditions being proposed, having municipalities repair and maintain public lighting is not viable or cost-effective,” Sifre said. “We are not talking about regular poles damaged through lack of maintenance. These are specifically the poles associated with Hurricane Maria. What do we do with the thousands that are not covered by FEMA, where there is no agreement, no funding and no obligation to address them?”
Mayagüez Mayor Jorge L. Ramos Ruiz noted that LUMA circulated a draft agreement in September that would permit municipalities to carry out public lighting repairs. However, he said the proposal prevents municipalities from subcontracting private professional firms to perform the work.
“When the document is examined, the proposal does not allow municipalities to subcontract qualified private entities to carry out these projects,” Ramos said. “The vast majority of municipalities do not have the specialized personnel or experience needed to perform this work.”
Aguada Mayor Christian Cortés Feliciano echoed those concerns, arguing that the plan fails to address streetlights outside projects linked to damage from hurricanes Irma, Maria and Fiona.
“The reality facing municipalities does not allow us to assume the costs and then wait years for reimbursement under FEMA guidelines,” Cortés said.
Hormigueros Mayor Pedro García Figueroa acknowledged that Act 174-2026 provides a framework for municipalities to enter into agreements with the private operator of Puerto Rico’s transmission and distribution system. However, he insisted that any final arrangement must be equitable for local governments.
“The conditions must be ones that we can negotiate under the principle of fairness,” García said. “I have no doubt that all 78 mayors in Puerto Rico would like to have their streetlights fully operational, but the process must be fair.”
Representing LUMA at the meeting were Michael Juarbe, the company’s vice president of government affairs, Rebecca Maldonado, director of government affairs, and several company engineers.
The discussions come as municipalities continue to face resident complaints about inoperative streetlights on roads and in rural areas, while local governments and LUMA seek a mechanism to accelerate repairs without imposing unsustainable financial obligations on cities and towns.
