Senate approves measure to allow municipalities to repair street lights on highways and streets

On May 7, a power outage in Cataño caused by a traffic accident damaged multiple utility poles. LUMA Energy responded to the incident, but under the new bill, similar situations could be handled through agreements with private contractors hired by municipalities.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Senate approved House Bill 1207, authored by House President Carlos “Johnny” Méndez, with a vote of 24-2, which makes it possible for municipalities to make agreements with the private operator of the electricity transmission and distribution network for the installation, repair, maintenance and modernization of public lighting.

“Yesterday the Senate endorsed an advanced measure that seeks to light up our streets and communities, making it easier for municipalities to repair and maintain the public lighting system in optimal conditions,” Méndez said in written statements. He added that since December 2025 he has promoted the initiative together with Representative Víctor Parés, with the aim of allowing municipalities to replace and maintain luminaires within their jurisdictions.

The bill establishes that municipal interventions will be carried out under defined operational functions, preserving the technical uniformity of the electricity system in coordination with the transmission and distribution operator, and maintaining the power of the Energy Bureau to supervise, correct or revoke authorizations.

As part of the regulatory process, the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau filed Regulation No. 9774 this week, entitled “Regulation for the Authorization, Supervision and Regulation of Municipal Participation in Public Lighting Connected to the Electric System.” The regulation was filed with the Department of State on June 22, 2026.

The measure, which is also co-authored by the president of the Government Commission, Víctor Parés, creates the “Law for Municipal Collaboration in the Installation, Repair, Maintenance and Modernization of the Public Lighting System” and establishes the regulatory framework for agreements between municipalities and the electric system operator, currently LUMA Energy, LLC.

During the forum “Municipalities & Energy Summit 2026: A New Path Forward”, the availability of $1,200 million for these works was reported. In addition, through a resolution of February 11, 2026, $527 million was reallocated for lighting projects in approximately 35 municipalities.

With this allocation, all municipalities are integrated into the Community Public Lighting Program, ensuring full coverage with funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).