The replacement of key structures will boost service stability for more than 40,000 residents.
Ciales, PR – May 7, 2026 – LUMA has completed a key phase of modernization on transmission line 36100 with the replacement of three wooden structures with 90-foot ones resistant to winds up to 160mph, which directly benefits more than 40,000 customers in Ciales, Morovis, Corozal and Utuado to strengthen the stability of electric service in the central region. As part of this effort, LUMA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Janisse Quiñones, visited the work area to learn first-hand about the conditions of the system with field workers and accelerate actions that improve service for customers.
Quiñones stressed that she has been with the brigades in the field on a weekly basis, directly observing the work, redistributing resources when necessary and providing continuous support to the teams. Its active participation responds to the objective of accelerating improvements and strengthening the reliability of the electric system for customers in Puerto Rico.
“These improvements address infrastructure that was more than 70 years old and presented critical conditions, including split poles, burned components and severely corroded hardware, which posed a real risk of disruptions to customers in this area. Many of these structures had not been replaced since before Hurricane Maria, a phenomenon that we know aggravated the condition of this infrastructure,” said engineer Hamilton Lugo, director of transmission lines, who has more than 22 years of experience in the electrical system and accompanied Quiñones during the inspection, reinforcing the importance of continuing to accelerate replacement actions throughout the island.
As part of this phase, three critical structures were replaced within a span comprised of more than 480 structures in total. Of those, 129 correspond to the segment between Dos Bocas and Ciales, where the greatest replacement needs were concentrated due to their age and condition. These works improve service continuity and strengthen the electrical system for multiple substations that serve the central area and extend to the metropolitan area such as the Monacillos substation in San Juan.
The new structures, installed in the section between Ciales and Dos Bocas, are made of galvanized steel, 88.5 feet high, and were designed to withstand winds of up to 160 miles per hour, aligned with modern standards of resilience. Its construction and installation were possible thanks to funds from the federal Department of Energy (DOE), allowing progress in the work, while the execution of the remaining structures continues, a design that is subject to FEMA.
Line 36100, which runs from San Juan to the Dos Bocas dam, is one of the main arteries of the transmission system, with two 115 kV circuits that power substations in Piñas, Monterrey, Corozal, Morovis, Ciales and Dos Bocas.
The works represented a significant challenge due to the mountainous topography, limited access, and the need to mobilize specialized machinery, which required advanced technical planning and highly trained transmission brigades.
“These works represent an important step to continue strengthening the electricity grid for this central region up to the metropolitan area. Our priority is customers and each investment in critical infrastructure allows us to provide a more reliable and safe service for the communities we serve,” Quiñones told the field workers during his tour of the works.
While this phase represents an important step forward, LUMA will continue to evaluate and replace critical infrastructure across the island as part of electric system stabilization and rebuilding efforts focused on improving the service experience for customers.
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 service they deserve. As a customer-centric company, LUMA’s entire workforce of over 4,000 employees is focused on safely delivering an exceptional customer service experience to its nearly 1.5 million customers.
