PDP senators seek to question LUMA & PREPA execs over energy crisis, rising bills

By THE STAR STAFF

Sen. Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz, the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) minority leader in the upper chamber, requested a questioning session on Monday with the top executives of the energy sector to explain the crisis facing the island’s electricity system and the recent two-cents-per-kilowatt-hour increase in electricity bills.

“Puerto Rico received the news that a two-cents-per-kilowatt-hour increase in electricity bills would be a shock to pay pensions for retirees of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority [PREPA],” Hernández Ortiz said at a press conference. “This charge is in addition to other increases due to fuel adjustments and quarterly reconciliations by the Energy Bureau.”

The senator said the resolution proposes questioning Public-Private Partnerships Authority Executive Director Josué Colón Ortiz, PREPA Executive Director Mary Carmen Zapata Acosta, and LUMA Energy President & CEO Juan Saca, in order to learn the details of the financing between PREPA and the private consortium that operates the electric power transmission and distribution system.

Sen. Marially González Huertas, the PDP alternate minority leader, noted that in recent days, LUMA “has used the media to allege liquidity problems and lack of funds, while the government maintains that these statements are false and that PREPA has made the corresponding transfers.”

González Huertas added that, according to public data released by Colón Ortiz, PREPA has spent $900 million more than the budget allocated to LUMA Energy between fiscal years 2022 and 2025.

“However, on Friday it was revealed that LUMA laid off 160 employees citing a lack of funding,” she said. “The Energy Czar [Colón Ortiz] has said that this decision seeks to pressure the government into accessing an $800 million ‘financial bailout.’”

Sen. Ada Álvarez Conde said the delegation has requested a report from the energy czar detailing the alternatives the government evaluated before approving the pension bill increase.