As part of the grid modernization plan, the electrical facility, located in the Dry Forest, now features new relays and equipment communication systems

Guánica, Puerto Rico – June 27, 2025 – LUMA has completed work at the Guánica TC substation as part of its ongoing efforts to modernize the electrical grid and strengthen service reliability for residents in the southwest region. As part of the improvements, an oil leak in the distribution transformer—taken out of service for nearly two weeks—was repaired. Upon completion of the work, the portable unit that had been used to keep customers connected was removed, and the main transformer was brought back online, directly benefiting more than 7,000 customers in Guánica, Yauco, and surrounding areas.

“This project represents another important step in the modernization of our substations. In addition to repairing the transformer, the substation is now equipped with new digital relays capable of detecting and isolating faults in hundredths of a second, protecting equipment and speeding up the process of restoring service continuity,” said Ángel Santiago, LUMA’s Western Substation Supervisor. “Special wildlife protections were also installed due to the substation’s location in the Dry Forest, where animals such as iguanas and snakes—among other protected species—pose a risk to the equipment,” the engineer added.

In recent years, LUMA also replaced the substation’s communication system, allowing its operations to be monitored and controlled remotely from any control center across the Island. Soon, as part of the ongoing modernization plan, a new transmission transformer will be installed to replace the unit that became inoperable after Hurricane María in 2017.

“All of these improvements reinforce the reliability and efficiency of the electric system in the region, reducing the risk of outages and enabling faster responses to unplanned events,” Santiago concluded.