In a recent government meeting, representatives from LUMA Energy and Genera PR provided updates on their efforts to improve Puerto Rico's energy infrastructure, highlighting significant progress and ongoing challenges.

LUMA Energy reported that over the past year, more than 95% of customers experienced concurrent service more than 98% of the time when generation was available. The company has initiated 460 critical projects with FEMA, amounting to $12.3 billion in federal funding, of which 171 projects have been approved, with 87% already in construction or completed. This marks a notable achievement compared to the previous management under PREPA, which did not advance any capital projects to construction.

Two major federally funded initiatives were launched by LUMA: a multiyear vegetation management initiative aimed at clearing vegetation from over 16,000 miles of power lines to reduce outages by up to 45%, and a smart meter initiative to replace 1.5 million meters across the island. These initiatives are expected to enhance service reliability and customer experience.

Despite these advancements, LUMA acknowledged the persistent challenges stemming from an aging infrastructure, which is on average 32 years older than typical systems in the U.S. The company emphasized the need for continued collaboration with federal partners to address these legacy issues and secure necessary funding.

Genera PR, which took over the operation of PREPA's thermal generation assets in July 2023, also outlined its commitment to providing reliable and affordable energy. CEO Brannen McElmurray highlighted the critical need for improvements in the aging generation fleet, which is over 40 years old. He noted that the lack of capital investment and maintenance over the past two decades has exacerbated the situation, leading to frequent outages and reliability issues.

McElmurray stressed the importance of aligning their operations with Puerto Rico's energy transition goals, including the decommissioning of outdated power plants as renewable energy sources are integrated. He expressed confidence in Genera's ability to stabilize the energy grid and improve service delivery, while also recognizing the invaluable contributions of PREPA's plant operators.

Both companies underscored the urgency of their missions, with LUMA and Genera committed to transforming Puerto Rico's energy landscape and ensuring that residents have access to reliable power. The meeting concluded with a call for continued support and collaboration from government officials to facilitate these critical improvements.