Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Regulator Asks Court to Pause PREPA RSA Hearings

Puerto Rico’s Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) announced that it’s filing a court motion to suspend all hearing and briefing deadlines for PREPA’s Restructuring Support Agreement. This agreement, intended to resolve the electric utitlity’s debt, would require a status report by May 15, 2020. See the full press release here. 

Solving the Maze of Puerto Rico’s Grid

From our Editorial Team

Puerto Rico is still recovering from the 6.4-magnitude quake that set off massive blackouts, and hurricane season is closing in. One thing is clear—the island needs a resilient grid, now. Grid resiliency is top of mind, but at the same time, island stakeholders are exploring the pathway to 100% renewables by 2050 (per Act 17). […]

$300-Million Thermal Ocean Energy Project to Launch in Puerto Rico

The Department of Economic Development and Commerce unveiled a plan to develop the $300 million Puerto Rico Ocean Technology Complex, or PROtech, to generate ocean thermal energy. The project will be developed in five phases, starting with the RFQ process next month. Source

PREPA’s Proposed Rate Hike Rejected; Delay Sought on RSA Hearing

The Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly recently rejected a measure that would increase electricity rates, as part of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) restructuring support agreement (RSA) with the public utility’s bondholders. The rate hike, required under the RSA, could increase electricity costs up to 20 percent over the next five years for all […]

Solar market on the rise in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria

After Hurricane Maria ripped through Puerto Rico in 2017 and took out the island’s electric grid, more residents have switched to solar power. In that time, US-based solar and storage company Sunnova has gained more than 2,500 clients, who’ve switched to solar panels and battery storage systems. Officials indicated that recent earthquakes have also intensified […]

PREPA CEO Jose Ortiz to join PR-GRID 2020

Jose Ortiz, CEO of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, has confirmed his participation in the 3rd Puerto Rico Grid Revitalization Forum. Mr. Ortiz joins an dynamic roster of panelists, including Carlos Rodríguez of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association and Tomás J. Torres from the Institute of Competitiveness and Economic Sustainability.

Solar microgrids across Puerto Rico withstand quakes; boost case for distributed generation

Solar microgrids installed throughout Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria didn’t lose power when massive earthquakes tore through the island’s electric grid earlier this month. The microgrids, many of which are permanently off-grid, were able to continue operating despite serious damage to transmission lines and power plants. Operators see this as an argument for shifting to […]