The four contracts, worth $7 million each, go to companies that will perform work to restore and replace thousands of streetlights, repair hurricane damage and improve public safety in Puerto Rico.
San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 26, 2022 – On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, as part of the $1 billion FEMA-funded Community Streetlight Initiative (CSI), LUMA awarded four contracts, representing $28 million in federal funds, to four Puerto Rico-based companies. This exciting announcement is the latest step in advancing the historic transmission and distribution (T&D) transformation projects to repair and replace thousands of streetlights across Puerto Rico.
“We’re extremely proud to announce these contract awards and are even more excited to begin work with these companies to repair and replace thousands of streetlights to keep communities safe all across Puerto Rico. These four construction contracts reinforce our mission to continue advancing projects that will transform and modernize the electric grid and delivering the progress our customers expect and deserve,” said LUMA President and Chief Executive Officer Wayne Stensby.
These contracts represent a crucial step toward modernizing streetlight infrastructure in communities across Puerto Rico and preparing for significant emergency events like hurricanes.
Each contract establishes a multi-year agreement for construction services between LUMA and construction companies: Beta Electric Corp., Master Link Corp., Multicom Group Corp., and Roman Electric Contractors, Inc. The four companies selected went through a rigorous competitive bidding process to assess each company’s capabilities and expertise for this project.
The CSI includes funding from FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, which provides funding for reconstruction work for the recovery from major disasters or emergencies. Additionally, some projects will receive critical funding from FEMA’s 406 Hazard Mitigation Program, which is focused on hardening infrastructure to mitigate future impacts of severe weather. This hardening work enhances the strength of streetlight arms, breakaway bases, concrete bases and poles by increasing the wind tolerance of all materials to 160mph.
The CSI is another part of LUMA’s commitment to operate efficiently and advance federally funded work. LUMA is committed to working very closely with FEMA and other partners to rebuild and transform the entire electric system in Puerto Rico. LUMA and FEMA are working together to achieve the same goal for Puerto Rico and all our communities – to create an energy system that is more reliable, more resilient, and utilizes more renewable energy.
Future FEMA Projects
To date, LUMA has initiated 186 projects with FEMA representing billions of dollars of new electric infrastructure investments. Additional FEMA funding approvals are expected and will be announced over the coming weeks and months. These projects will represent the largest capital energy program in Puerto Rico’s history, and one of the largest ever funded by the federal government.
About LUMA LUMA is a Puerto Rican company that, since June 1, 2021, operates and manages the electric power transmission and distribution system in Puerto Rico. LUMA is a company driven by a mission to transform the electric transmission and distribution system to provide all Puerto Ricans with the reliable, resilient, cleaner and affordable electric grid they deserve. As a customer-centric company, LUMA’s entire workforce of more than 3,000 employees is focused on safely delivering an exceptional customer service experience to its 1.5 million customers.
