PDP accuses governing NPP of failing to address worsening energy crisis

PDP Secretary General Manuel Calderón Cerame, center at lectern

Governor highlights new fuel‑conversion, storage projects

By THE STAR STAFF

Popular Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary General Manuel Calderón Cerame accused the governing New Progressive Party (NPP) administration on Sunday of failing to tackle Puerto Rico’s worsening energy crisis, citing new operational data that shows rising outages and declining reliability across the island.

Calderón Cerame said the latest figures confirm what residents have been saying for years.

“The most recent data confirms what the people experience every day: the electrical system is worse,” he stated. “While the NPP fails to resolve the problem, the reality is that blackouts continue to increase and the quality of service continues to deteriorate.”

According to the operational report referenced by the PDP, the average time customers spend without service -- measured by what is known as the SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index) -- has risen nearly 30% over the past three years. Puerto Rico’s performance now ranks among the worst when compared with U.S. jurisdictions. The frequency of outages, reflected in the SAIFI (System Average Interruption Frequency Index), has also climbed steadily, indicating that power interruptions are occurring more often and lasting longer.

Calderón Cerame argued that the failures go beyond technical shortcomings.

“The problem isn’t just technical; it’s one of governance,” he said. “This government has failed and continues to fail to oversee the contract with the private [grid] operator, LUMA, and to present a credible energy plan for Puerto Rico.”

The opposition party official noted that repeated service failures have pushed families and businesses toward rooftop solar systems, a trend the PDP views as a necessary response to the island’s instability. Calderón Cerame criticized an NPP proposal to impose additional charges on solar customers.

“Every day, more Puerto Ricans are opting for solar panels as a solution to the energy crisis,” he said. “The NPP wants to impose a tax on this solution, and that is unacceptable to us.”

The speaker of the NPP-controlled House of Representatives in fact made an urgent call last week for a review to identify recurring funding sources that could replace the roughly $18 million generated by the suspension of a tax on residential solar systems. PDP legislators suggested that the funds could be obtained by the central government cutting advertising and public relations contracts.

Calderón Cerame added that the PDP will continue promoting measures to “strengthen energy stability, protect consumers, and ensure that Puerto Rico has a reliable and modern electrical system.”

La Fortaleza did not directly respond to the PDP’s accusations. However, the governor late last week -- accompanied by Energy Czar Josué Colón Ortiz, Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) Executive Director Mary Carmen Zapata Acosta and Genera PR executives -- announced new developments aimed at addressing grid deficiencies.

As reported by the STAR, officials confirmed the start of construction on the island’s second large‑scale energy‑storage installation, located in Vega Baja. The project is part of a broader effort to integrate 430 megawatts (MW) of storage capacity, which the administration says could reduce load‑shedding events by up to 90% once fully installed. Crews are currently building the foundation for BESS units that will store 49 MW of energy.

The initiative stems from an agreement between Genera PR and Tesla to install Megapacks at the Cambalache, Vega Baja, Palo Seco, Yabucoa, Aguirre and Costa Sur power plants -- an effort described by officials as Tesla’s largest energy‑storage project in the United States.

The government also announced the completion of the fuel‑conversion process at the Palo Seco power plant, where three turbines have transitioned from diesel to natural gas. The switch is expected to generate up to $8.5 million in annual savings. The turbines, capable of producing 81 MW collectively, will now operate using a cheaper and cleaner fuel source, which officials say will lower operational costs and contribute to grid reliability while advancing the government’s energy‑policy goals.