Planned upgrade project will result in temporary service interruptions to improve future reliability for customers across the island
November 30, 2023 – Today, LUMA announced critical upgrades and improvements to the Sabana Llana substation as the latest phase of the historic FEMA-funded Substation Modernization Initiative (SMI) that will result in improved service reliability for customers across the island. The planned upgrade work may result in temporary service interruptions for customers in Carolina, Canóvanas and Río Grande beginning around 1:00 am on Sunday, December 3, and will last approximately 12-14 hours in order to ensure the safe completion of the work.
“The Sabana Llana substation is a critical part of achieving our goal to improve system reliability and help reduce the risk of future outages for our customers. Work like this will help us achieve what we know the people of Puerto Rico expect and deserve – a more reliable energy service with fewer outages,” said Juan Saca, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Sabana Llana Substation Upgrades
LUMA’s upgrades to the Sabana Llana Substation include the following critical assessments and improvements:
- Increasing reliability by replacing breakers and an outdated transformer with industry standard, modern equipment
- Improving resiliency by performing thermal imaging inspections, conducting necessary repairs across all areas of the substation and clearing hazardous vegetation
- Protecting crews and critical infrastructure by replacing 1,200 feet of fencing and installing a secondary grounding area.
This work is helping to improve system reliability for customers served by the Sabana Llana substation and to optimize distribution operations for customers served by other nearby substations.
Keeping Our Customers Informed
The Sabana Llana substation planned upgrade project will be performed this Sunday, Dec. 3, as crews will take the crucial step of repairing three critical breakers at the substation. The planned upgrade work is scheduled to begin overnight on Sunday morning around 1:00 a.m. and will last approximately 12-14 hours. LUMA is coordinating with the mayors of Carolina, Canóvanas and Río Grande as their municipalities are directly served by the substation and customers in those communities may be out of service while the planned upgrade work is underway to ensure worker and public safety.
LUMA encourages customers whose service may be impacted by the Sabana Llana planned upgrades to visit lumapr.com/plannedworks for updates.
LUMA’s Substation Modernization Initiative
The FEMA-funded SMI includes an initial $143 million in approved federal funds to help improve the reliability of the electric system in Puerto Rico by modernizing and rebuilding substations across the island. Work is underway at 15 substations with plans to modernize 50 substations over the next two years, including the complete reconstruction of six major substations.
For more details on LUMA’s progress, progressodelumapr.com.
About LUMA
LUMA is a Puerto Rican company that, as of June 1, 2021, operates and manages the electric transmission and distribution system in Puerto Rico. LUMA is a mission-driven company that transforms the electric transmission and distribution system to provide all Puerto Ricans with the reliable, resilient, clean and affordable electric service they deserve. As a customer-centric company, LUMA’s entire workforce of nearly 4,500 employees is committed to providing an exceptional customer service experience to its 1.5 million customers.
