LUMA CREWS ARE RESPONDING, AND WILL CONTINUE TO RESPOND, TO IMPACTS OF STORM THROUGHOUT WEEKEND

San Juan, Puerto Rico, September 17, 2022 – Today, as Topical Storm Fiona approaches Puerto Rico with anticipated landfall this afternoon, LUMA announced crews, resources and materials are positioned across the island, and that crews are responding and will continue to respond as quickly and safely as possible to severe weather and significant power outages throughout the weekend. In addition, LUMA’s Emergency Operations Center is fully operational and coordinating directly with LUMA’s Regional Operation Centers, local municipalities and utility crews across the island to support customers impacted by the storm.

According to the National Weather Service, Tropical Storm Fiona is expected to bring heavy rains, strong winds, flash flooding and mudslides to Puerto Rico over the weekend, and is likely to have a significant impact on the electric grid across the island.

“We urge our customers to take precautions to stay safe and prepare for significant outages and the impacts from Tropical Storm Fiona. Our entire LUMA team of more than 3000 employees, including our 1,395 field-based utility workers, the additional 100 lineworkers flown in and deployed by our parent companies, as well as an additional 95 local Puerto Rican electrical contractors are responding and restoring power now and will continue to do so as quickly and safely as possible,” said LUMA Public Safety Manager, Abner Gómez.

Actions Taken to Date in Preparations for Tropical Storm Fiona:   

1. Activated the LUMA Emergency Operations Center and deployed company representatives to the central government’s Emergency Operations Center, as indicated in LUMA’s Emergency Management Plan.
2. Mobilized 1,395 utility workers including lineworker, substations, vegetation management, low voltage and aviation crews who are trained and available to respond to serious emergencies.
3. Mobilized additional lineworkers from the mainland.
4. Staging local Puerto Rican contractors to assist with restoration and storm response efforts including Lord Electric and Electric Co-Op.
5. Deployed additional utility equipment and personnel to the island for emergency response in support of LUMA’s field utility crews.  
6. Deployed and positioned its 1,800+ fleet for emergency response.
7. Utilizing as necessary the $128 million in on-hand inventory of transmission and distribution material available for responding to emergency events, more than five times the inventory that was on the island before Hurricane María.
8. Conducted proactive outreach to:
   1. All 78 Mayors and Municipalities with planning updates and contingency plans to maintain customer service throughout the storm.
   1. Essential service providers like hospitals.
   1. Lifeline Residential Service Customers who need electricity to operate medical equipment to activate emergency plans.
9. Coordinated with the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau (PREMB), the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), FEMA, the U.S. Department of Energy Support Function #12 and other government agencies to coordinate a unified response.

As part of its storm preparations, LUMA is also communicating through its customer channels what customers can do to keep themselves and their families safe. Among the actions LUMA is highlighting include:

Customer Safety Messages

• Stay away from any downed power lines. We urge the public to put their safety first. Call us immediately at 1-844-888-5862 (LUMA) to report any downed lines or electrical emergencies that require immediate attention. Remember to stay away from any low hanging or downed power lines
• Lifeline Residential Services customers that require electrical medical equipment should activate emergency plans in anticipation of possible service interruptions
  • During the storm, please stay inside your home and away from windows
  • Keep flashlights, battery-operated radios, extra batteries, bottled water and non-perishable food items at hand
  • Secure medications and a first-aid kit
  • Protect important identification documents such as passports, Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, insurance policies and any other important documents
  • Turn off power switches and unplug electronic equipment such as televisions and computers
• If you own a generator, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Ensure the generator is in a well-ventilated area
• If you experience an outage, please report it using the Mi LUMA app or website available at miluma.lumapr.com.

Updates on Storm and Storm Response

LUMA will be communicating about its emergency preparations, storm response, and the impact the storm has on the electric system through the news media and its social media channels. Among the critical resources LUMA will provide updates include the following:

• LUMA website: lumapr.com    
• Twitter: twitter.com/lumaenergypr
• Facebook: facebook.com/lumapuertorico
• LUMA Outage Reporting Map: miluma.lumapr.com/outages/outageMap
• Mi LUMA app notifications
• Radio public safety advertisements

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 electrical transmission and distribution system to provide all Puerto Ricans with the reliable, resilient, cleaner, and affordable electrical 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.