Efforts aim to protect the system, stabilize voltage, add redundancy, and reduce prolonged outages
San Juan, Puerto Rico – December 9, 2025 – As transformers, breakers, and other essential equipment continue to arrive to strengthen the electric grid, LUMA today highlighted significant progress in its Preventive and Corrective Maintenance Plan for substations. This program is designed to improve service reliability while the reconstruction of the electric system continues.
Hendzon Martínez Rodríguez, Director of Substations, explained that the plan enables voltage stabilization, increased redundancy, and a reduction in the duration and frequency of service interruptions. The work includes specialized inspections, battery bank testing and maintenance, thermographic imaging to detect hot spots, support for planned operations, minor repairs to extend equipment life, preventive maintenance on key components, and equipment replacement.
In just four months, work and/or repairs have been completed at nearly 1,400 substation points across the island, of which:
- 65% are preventive maintenance tasks
- 13% are repairs identified during scheduled inspections
- 6% are emergency interventions
- 9% are related to system performance improvements
Martínez noted that this plan responds to an analysis of the system’s condition, which revealed:
- 58% of distribution breakers were overdue for maintenance
- 62% of transformers had missed their maintenance cycle
- 48% of transmission breakers were out of cycle
- 66% of tap changers -devices that help regulate voltage at the distribution level in substations—were overdue for maintenance. Each maintenance cycle spans four years, meaning some units may have gone decades without proper servicing.
“With adequate funding, we will be able to much more quickly stabilize the grid by proactively addressing issues in a controlled manner rather than solely responding to failures that impact the customer experience as a result of decades of neglect”, said Martínez.
Luis Miranda, Director of Substation Protection and Control, emphasized that to strengthen the reliability of electric service, a program focused on maintaining protection and control equipment in substations began in April of this year.
“We have performed preventive and corrective maintenance on over 10,000 devices across the network. These components are essential for detecting and isolating faults, protecting both infrastructure and service continuity. Recognizing their importance, we established a dedicated technical team to ensure their proper operation,” Miranda explained.
In a six-month period, work has been completed at 20 transmission centers, representing approximately 20% of the protection relay fleet. These efforts have helped identify and correct vulnerabilities that, if left unaddressed, could lead to significant service interruptions.
“Maintaining this equipment is key to ensuring the stability of the electric system. These interventions are part of a strategic plan aimed at anticipating potential failures and reinforcing the grid’s resilience,” Miranda added.
Martínez also highlighted, “We are advancing on two fronts: receiving critical equipment to modernize the grid and executing an aggressive, detailed maintenance program that addresses the most urgent needs of the electric system. This work is improving service reliability as we complete the most significant energy system reconstruction in Puerto Rico’s history.”
A concrete example of this effort is the major maintenance and repair work scheduled over the next three months for the transformer and its components at the Manatí Transmission Center—equipment that had not been serviced since 2019.
“This substation is just one of many examples of the challenges caused by prolonged lack of maintenance across the electric system. The accumulated deterioration now demands urgent interventions. LUMA is addressing these deficiencies through a structured and sustained approach, reaffirming our commitment to stabilizing and modernizing the grid,” Martínez concluded.
About LUMA
LUMA is a Puerto Rican company that, since June 1, 2021, has operated and managed the electric power transmission and distribution system in Puerto Rico. LUMA is driven by the mission to transform the transmission and distribution system to provide all Puerto Ricans with the reliable, resilient, clean, and affordable electric grid they deserve. As a customer-focused company, LUMA’s entire workforce of over 4,500 employees is committed to delivering an exceptional customer service experience to its 1.5 million customers.
