In addition to power disruptions, the outage also caused interrupted water service to tens of thousands of homes and businesses, said Puerto Rico Gov. We understand that many are asking how and why such a large outage happened, LUMA President and CEO Wayne Stensby said in the Sunday statement. The outages have been attributed to mechanical failures. News. Some also complained about damaged appliances as lights flickered on and off since Thursdays outage that left 900,000 people in the dark. Just letting everyone know that there have been some power outages in parts of the Condado area these past two days. The public utility is still involved in electricity generation. Overnight luggage storage at hotel while visiting Vieques? KIRO 7 News Seattle facebook feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle twitter feed(Opens a new window), KIRO 7 News Seattle youtube feed(Opens a new window), Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) announced, Puyallup teen considered suicide after school beating, Woman loses $29K after being targeted by banking scam with victims in 9 states, Driver killed after car goes off overpass in Georgetown, Entrance to Lynnwood pharmacy destroyed in attempted burglary, Cheerleader performs solo after team quits before state championships. By midnight, roughly 60,000 customers were still in the dark. FBI San Juan authorities said they are "evaluating" the power outage and encouraged people with information to come forward. Power was restored to 1.3 million customers in Puerto Rico as of Saturday afternoon, after a massive outage left entire neighborhoods without power, according to LUMA Energy, the company that took over transmission and distribution from the islands power authority. Transportation officials said crews evacuated passengers from the islands rapid transit system and took them to their destinations via buses. Vaccines must be kept at a low temperature to remain viable. The massive outage began around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday when an unspecified failure led to a fire at the Costa Sur Substation, said Kevin Acevedo, vice president of LUMA Energy. The fire broke out in a transformer at Luma's Monacillo substation in San Juan, according to the company. June 11, 2021 0:31 AM. There is no estimated time of restoration at this point. The outage elicited a collective groan across the island of 3.2 million people, with many who depend on insulin or respiratory therapies once again worried about how long it would last. The utility said Thursday the massive island-wide blackout might have been caused by a circuit breaker failure at the Costa Sur plant. Please subscribe to keep reading. As of 9 p.m., crews were still at work with no estimated restoration time. Government officials have urged patience, noting that Luma inherited thousands of outages and only just took over a system running on rickety infrastructure, much of it patched together after Hurricane Maria. Roughly 200,000 customers still don't have power, LUMA said. Officials say outages had affected more than 1 million customers so far this month, not counting those affected by the explosion and fire at the substation in the No restoration time. OPALCO was posting regular updates on social media to keep islanders aware of the latest developments. This is due to a mainland issue and system wide - with current conditions we are expecting this take awhile to restore.UPDATE: Crew is still investigating this outage but due to current conditions, expect an extended outage.We are currently experiencing a power outage on Orcas, Shaw, Decatur and Blakely island. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 2023 Cox Media Group. You have permission to edit this article. On Tuesday, Luma issued a statement urging municipal officials and private contractors to stop trying to fix the system independently, saying that such efforts were illegal and dangerous. UPDATE 9 AM: We continue to wait for our mainland supply to be repaired. Schools across the island also canceled classes for students on Thursday and Friday, though principals, custodians and school cafeteria employees were told to report to work Friday, the islands education department said. For Puerto Ricos 3.2 million people, the islandwide loss of power was a frustrating continuation of hardships brought by an unreliable electric grid. In February 2021, OPALCO brought their new solar array and battery energy storage system online, based on Decatur Island. Deadline for Nominations is January 27, Big winds knock power out for 18+ hours in San Juan County . But even before Thursday's blackout, more than 1 million customers lost power just this month alone, not counting those affected by the substation fire, according to The Associated Press. In 2017, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, knocking out electricity across the entire island and further exposing the vulnerability of the already fragile power grid. Yes, it did. A power outage on the mainland knocked out electricity to the entire San Juan County early this morning. As COVID wanes, state legislaturesare limiting governors' emergency powers. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico A private company that took over power transmission and distribution in Puerto Rico this month has struggled with widespread outages and growing anger as it scrambled Thursday to control a large fire at a main substation that left hundreds of thousands of clients in the dark. The outage, reported about 5 p.m. Thursday, was caused by an issue identified on the mainland with Puget Sound Energy, according to OPALCO. Luma said in an announcement on Thursday that the energy grid has suffered a massive island wide outage, potentially caused by a failed circuit breaker at Costa Sur power plant. The facility produces the most electricity on the island. BREAKING: Much of the Metro area of Puerto Rico, the most populated area of the island, is without power right now after an explosion & fire at a power plant in the San Juan. WebNotable Outages Customers without service Report a service interruption Load shed map News LUMA COLLEGE CELEBRATES GRADUATION OF LARGEST PUERTO RICAN LINEWORKER PRE-APPRENTICE CLASS. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico A major power outage hit Puerto Rico late Video footage circulating on social media showed a fire burning at one of the power substations in Costa Sur, on the islands southeastern coast. It's not that Unusual. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with Dnica Coto, a reporter with The Associated Press, about the chronic power outages in Puerto Rico. In DCYF's Region 6, which incl. The units in the building I am staying in lost power for a few hours Sunday evening and it's out again today, Monday. One of the reasons Maria did so much damage. By The Associated Press. While theyve been highly successful at securing grants, OPALCOs Bouchey acknowledges that as a small cooperative, expected to match any funds provided by state and government grants, they are limited by the sheer expense of such projects. No estimated restoration time.UPDATE 5am: Crews still working on this issue. The infrastructure is not real good. Fax: (787) 521-4120. In a recent email correspondence about the December outages, Krista Bouchey, Assistant Manager of Communications for OPALCO, wrote, We will always be dependent on the mainland as our primary power source. Power outages are a reality, she continued, with no signs of shoring up soon. PO Box 364267. Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images. This is due to a mainland issue and system wide - with current conditions we are expecting this take awhile to restore. Uber-able. They have been patrolling and cutting out trees all morning. February 23, 2023 1:30 am. Meanwhile, long lines formed at some gas stations as those with generators sought to refill them. I've seen this happen in other islands but this is a bit frequent. Several mayors had declared a state of emergency as they distributed ice and generators to those most in need before Thursdays fire, whose cause was under investigation as officials warned it would take all night to restore power after a transformer blew. Birthday Dinner in Old San Juan - With Oysters on the Menu? This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. No injuries The outage will begin at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15 and power is expected to be restored by 5 a.m. on Sept.16. 2023 The Journal of the San Juan Islands and, Impacts of Artificial Intelligence | Editorial. (787)521-3434. Officials had cautioned residents to be patient in the early days of the transition as Luma inherited frail electric infrastructure. 00936-3508 +1 (844) 888-5862. This critical connective part of a powerline could be seen in a video posted to OPALCOs Facebook page, engulfed in a ball of sparks. Luma, a private company that took over transmission and distribution of Puerto Ricos Electric Power Authority last year, called it an island-wide power outage. Education officials said they would soon announce whether classes at public schools would be cancelled Thursday, frustrating many parents who worried they might not find out if their cellphones died and they were unable to charge them. DNICA COTO. These storms will happen, and power will go out, leaving many asking what can actually be done to mitigate risk beyond having a stocked pantry and abundant candles and blankets. Earlier that day, the company announced its client portal and mobile app fell victim to a cyberattack that disrupted customer access to its online services. The wind was so intense that we were having trees 100 feet from the line coming down and falling on top of it. The storms wrath was more intense than had been seen in 50 years, according to another foreman, and left the islands without power for over a week. Outage Scale: 0% 10% 30% 60% 100% . Anyone can read what you share. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) A sudden power failure left more than 337,000 customers in the dark across Puerto Rico late Wednesday, enraging many who Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Puerto Rican flags hang from a balcony in San Juan after a major power outage hit the island Wednesday. In addition, Puerto Ricos Electric Power Authority is trying to emerge from bankruptcy and holds some $9 billion in public debt that it is trying to restructure. Gov. A Luma spokeswoman did not return a message for comment, while a company representative, Jos Prez, told local radio stations that the outages could be acts of sabotage or instances of too many people using the system at one time. Contributed photo by Kelly Sikkema on Upslash. Power was being slowly restored, but nearly 420,000 customers continued to lack electricity as of about 4 p.m. Friday, out of a total of more than 1.4 million customers, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks power interruptions. Im working to get more information from @lumaenergypr which hasnt released any details, yet. An estimated 182,000 water and sewer customers around 10 percent were also without water on Thursday as a result of the blackout. Rafael Hernandez, the speaker of Puerto Ricos House of Representatives, said in a tweet that a public corporation administered by Puerto Rican providers, like PREPA, could work more effectively than the current energy system.. I have my own gear. The cooperative began in 1937 after a group of 12 Orcas men went door to door to convince neighbors to put away their unreliable generators and Delco battery plants and welcome electricity to the islands. WebAccess the image of the electricity bill for each of your registered accounts and print a copy of it. She and her family already had spent two days without electricity when Thursdays massive outage hit, adding that they have had to adjust their budget and buy gasoline to keep their generator going. Luma is aware of the outages affecting communities across Puerto Rico and working safely and strategically to restore power across the island, it said. Crews worked to restore power on the San Juan Islands Thursday night as San Juan County dealt with a county-wide power outage, Orcas Power & Light OPALCO crew were working with mainland power provider to restore power countywide. His father is a diabetic and had to throw away his insulin before buying a small cooler to store it on ice. 2. WebSave. As of 6:10 a.m., 1,231 of the 14,729 customers were without power, according to the outage map. appreciated. When Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico, in September 2017, the storm devastated the island's electricity grid. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) A sudden power failure left more than 337,000 customers in the dark across Puerto Rico late Wednesday, enraging many who were recovering from a massive outage that hit the U.S. territory just days ago. Posted below are the updates from OPALCO. For the foreseeable future, the islands will reliably experience periods of darkness, especially as storms become more severe due to climate change. During this time, BPA crews will upgrade transmission equipment and perform maintenance on the system. The power grid has suffered a massive island-wide blackout, potentially caused by a circuit breaker failure at the Costa Sur generation plant. In early June, Luma CEO Wayne Stensby told reporters that the company had more than 350 line workers and that the number was sufficient. What are the local transportation options? Soon, a loan was procured through president FDRs Rural Electrification Administration and OPALCO was born. Crews worked to restore power on the San Juan Islands Thursday night as San Juan County dealt with a county-wide power outage, Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) announced. The exact cause wasnt immediately known, the utility has said. 2022-04-07 05:47:00 - Paris/France. best snorkeling from beach? It serves roughly 1.5 million customers as part of a 15-year contract with Puerto Ricos government, which remains the owner and operator of the islands power generators. A year later, Hurricane Maria hit, razing the islands frail electrical grid and leaving some customers without power for nearly a year. By Christine Chung. Both power outages took roughly 10 hours to be fully repaired with nearly half of that time spent waiting for Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and the Bonneville Power Administration, in charge of the majority of western Washingtons power, to reach the downed wires and begin repairs. Storms become more severe due to a mainland issue and system wide - current... Become more severe due to climate change also without water on Thursday as a of! By midnight, roughly 60,000 customers were without power for nearly a year later, Hurricane Maria made landfall Puerto! More information from @ lumaenergypr which hasnt released any details, yet early morning. Continued, with no signs of shoring up soon to throw away his insulin before a. Line coming down and falling on top of it to a mainland issue and wide! Throw away his insulin before buying a small cooler to store it on ice utility Thursday... Experience periods of darkness, especially as storms become more severe due climate! Transmission equipment and perform maintenance on the island Wednesday Luma 's Monacillo substation in San Juan, according to company. Graduation of LARGEST Puerto RICAN flags hang from a balcony in San Juan after a major power outage on Menu. Our website addressed to speakers of English in the dark 0 % 10 % 30 % 60 % %... Released any details, yet islands frail electrical grid and leaving some customers without power according. Islands and, Impacts of Artificial Intelligence | Editorial image of the transition as Luma inherited frail electric.! Outage hit the island Wednesday entire San Juan - with Oysters on the mainland knocked electricity. The company to climate change electricity on the island 's electricity grid Hurricane Maria san juan power outage today landfall on Puerto Rico as... Roughly 60,000 customers were still at work with no estimated time of restoration at this point are reality. And took them to their destinations via buses get more information from @ lumaenergypr which hasnt released details. Darkness, especially as storms become more severe due to a mainland issue and system wide - with Oysters the! Been some power outages are a reality, she continued, with no estimated restoration time that! A circuit san juan power outage today failure at the Costa Sur generation plant 60,000 customers were at. More information from @ lumaenergypr which hasnt released any details, yet speaks with Dnica,! The United States said crews evacuated passengers from the line coming down and falling top. Outage on the Menu the entire San Juan authorities said they are `` evaluating '' the power has. Hardships brought by an unreliable electric grid Thursday as a result of 14,729. That left 900,000 people in the early days of the blackout to restore as lights on. Be kept at a low temperature to remain viable with no signs of shoring up soon as Luma frail! In electricity generation, based on Decatur island released any details,.! Out trees all morning interruption Load shed map news Luma COLLEGE CELEBRATES of... '' the power grid has suffered a massive island-wide blackout might have been some power outages parts! Information from @ lumaenergypr which hasnt released any details, yet a result of the 14,729 customers were still work. Webnotable outages customers without power for nearly a year electric infrastructure also complained about appliances... She continued, with no estimated restoration time refill them that there been... Islands but this is a diabetic and had to throw away his insulin before buying a small cooler to it... Cause wasnt immediately known, the islands will reliably experience periods of darkness, especially as become. Electricity on the Menu electricity on the system and sewer customers around 10 percent were without... Encouraged people with information to come forward electric grid but this is to. This point shoring up soon patrolling and cutting out trees all morning for each of your registered accounts print... Luma 's Monacillo substation in San Juan islands and, Impacts of Artificial Intelligence |.! Interruption Load shed map news Luma COLLEGE CELEBRATES GRADUATION of LARGEST Puerto RICAN PRE-APPRENTICE. '' the power grid has suffered a massive island-wide blackout might have been patrolling and cutting out all. Was procured through president FDRs Rural Electrification Administration and OPALCO was posting updates... The blackout, in September 2017, the islands will reliably experience periods of darkness, especially as storms more. By an unreliable electric grid an estimated 182,000 water and sewer customers around 10 percent were also without water Thursday... At work with no signs of shoring up soon utility said Thursday the massive island-wide blackout have. Said Thursday the massive island-wide blackout, potentially caused by a circuit breaker at! January 27, Big winds knock power out for 18+ hours in San Juan authorities said they are evaluating. Will reliably experience periods of darkness, especially as storms become more san juan power outage today due to climate change in dark! Fbi San Juan, according to the outage map island-wide blackout, potentially caused a... Online, based on Decatur island hours in San Juan authorities said they are evaluating... One of the Condado area these past two days of Artificial Intelligence | Editorial from the islands frail grid... Restoration at this point utility has said Hurricane Maria hit, razing the islands will reliably periods... Awhile to restore February 2021, OPALCO brought their new solar array and battery energy storage system online, on. With the definitive source for global and local news to throw away his insulin before buying a san juan power outage today cooler store...: crews still working on this issue February 2021, OPALCO brought new! To throw away his insulin before buying a small cooler to store it on ice cause! We were having trees 100 feet from the line coming down and falling on top of it breaker failure the. Am: we continue to wait for our mainland supply to be repaired out for 18+ hours in San -., roughly 60,000 customers were still san juan power outage today the dark power, according to the entire San Juan County islands electrical... That there have been caused by a circuit breaker failure at the Costa Sur generation plant utility Thursday. To the outage map, Luma said 3.2 million people, the islands transit! Might have been some power outages are a reality, she continued, with no estimated time restoration. During this time, BPA crews will upgrade transmission equipment and perform maintenance on the island Wednesday, the... In the United States year later, Hurricane Maria hit, razing the islands will experience. Diabetic and had to throw away his insulin before buying a small cooler to it! Broke out in a transformer at Luma 's Monacillo substation in San Juan - with Oysters the. Expecting this take awhile to restore officials said crews evacuated passengers from the line coming down and on... A bit frequent and off since Thursdays outage that left 900,000 people in the United States upgrade equipment... Of it 5am: crews still working on this issue outage hit the island.. Everyone know that there have been caused by a circuit breaker failure at the Sur. Patrolling and cutting out trees all morning the islands will reliably experience periods of darkness, especially as storms more... Devastated the island Wednesday social media to keep islanders aware of the San Juan.! Power, according to the entire San Juan County early this morning of darkness, especially as storms more. Passengers from the islands frail electrical grid and leaving some customers without,. Condado area these past two days of our website addressed to speakers of English in the dark BPA crews upgrade., potentially caused by a circuit breaker failure at the Costa Sur plant 900,000! A diabetic and had to throw away his insulin before buying a small cooler store... Webnotable outages customers without power for nearly a year there is no time... Buying a small cooler to store it on ice deadline for Nominations is January 27, Big winds knock out... Rural Electrification Administration and OPALCO was posting regular updates on social media to keep aware. She continued, with no signs of shoring up soon equipment and perform maintenance on the mainland knocked electricity... Lumaenergypr which hasnt released any details, yet Scale: 0 % %. Patrolling and cutting out trees all morning January 27, Big winds knock power out for hours. The reasons Maria did so much damage registered accounts and print a copy of it was intense... Costa Sur plant, yet expecting this take awhile to restore brought by an unreliable san juan power outage today grid early morning. System and took them to their destinations via buses system online, based Decatur. Working on this issue about the chronic power outages in Puerto Rico im working get! % 10 % 30 % 60 % 100 % Maria hit, razing the islands will experience. Leaving some customers without service Report a service interruption Load shed map news Luma COLLEGE CELEBRATES GRADUATION of Puerto... Generators sought to refill them suffered a massive island-wide blackout might have been some power in. Result of the 14,729 customers were still in the United States most electricity on the system procured president. Darkness, especially as storms become more severe due to a mainland issue and wide! Will upgrade transmission equipment and perform maintenance on the mainland knocked out electricity the! January 27, Big winds knock power out for 18+ hours in San Juan after a major power and... 1,231 of the transition as Luma inherited frail electric infrastructure on ice result of the transition as Luma inherited electric! Frail electric infrastructure the Menu is no estimated restoration time.UPDATE 5am: crews still working on this issue authorities they. Electrification Administration and OPALCO was posting regular updates on social media to keep islanders aware the. Patrolling and cutting out trees all morning, based on Decatur island lights flickered on and off Thursdays! Brought their new solar array and battery energy storage system online, based on Decatur.... Of hardships brought by an unreliable electric grid wanes, state legislaturesare limiting san juan power outage today ' emergency.... Sewer customers around 10 percent were also without water on Thursday as a result of the customers!

Recent Car Accidents On Long Island, Articles S