The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) has selected Walter Higgins as its new CEO. Higgins led Ascendant from 2012 to 2016, during which Bermuda was hit by three hurricanes, PREPA said in a statement. That could give him vital experience leading Puerto Rico’s utility, which even six months after Hurricane Maria is struggling to bring all customers back online. He has also previously worked with Atlanta Gas Light Co., Portland General Electric, Sierra Pacific Power and Louisville Gas & Electric. Higgins will replace Gonzalez, who led PREPA briefly during its search for a new executive director. The former head, Ricardo Ramos, resigned following scrutiny over a contract signed with Montana-based Whitefish Energy in the wake of Hurricane Maria to repair and rebuild the island’s electric grid.
PREPA has for years faced an aging grid and billions of dollars in debt, but Hurricane Maria’s devastation in September of last year added a new dimension to the utility’s woes. It has been six months since the storm destroyed the island’s grid and knocked out power to every customer. The utility said on Monday that virtually all of the island’s generation is back online, though about 7% of customers remained without power. Higgins takes the helm at PREPA as the utility faces several other difficult situations as well.
