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LUMA FILES 2022 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN, PROVIDES BRIEFING OF EFFORTS TO PREPARE FOR 2022 HURRICANE SEASON

Emergency Response Plan submitted to the PREB outlines critical planning and preparation efforts/LUMA also outlines emergency response actions and inventory

San Juan, Puerto Rico May 27, 2022 – Today, LUMA submitted its 2022 Emergency Response Plan (ERP) to the PREB as part of its continuous effort to plan, prepare and respond to the major emergencies and the 2022 hurricane season. In a briefing on the 2022 ERP, LUMA President and Chief Executive Officer Wayne Stensby, alongside senior LUMA leaders, further outlined the significant actions the company is undertaking to prepare for emergency events, train employees, bolster inventory and coordinate among government agencies to support customers during the 2022 hurricane season.

“LUMA is well prepared as we enter the 2022 hurricane season. Our 2022 Emergency Response Plan represents the blueprint of how LUMA responds when a major emergency like a hurricane occurs,” stated Stensby. “Preparing for emergency events is a daily and year-round priority for the 3,000 men and women of LUMA, and we are working closely with our government partners at the local and federal levels to ensure we support the people of Puerto Rico during any critical emergency event.”

LUMA’s 2022 ERP outlines the actions LUMA takes in an emergency event and helps direct the company’s response, recovery and restoration efforts.  The Plan specifically addresses how LUMA responds to any emergency, including hurricanes, earthquakes or any other major event that impacts the electric system. The LUMA ERP follows industry best practices for emergency response and follows the National Incident Management System as established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The National Incident Management System framework establishes a standardized Incident Command System (ICS) which is used across industries and is the basis for LUMA’s ERP.

Critical Emergency Actions: Preparing for the 2022 Hurricane Season

In addition to outlining the actions within the 2022 ERP, LUMA leaders provided details about the company’s actions and readiness to respond to hurricanes or other major emergency events. Among the actions LUMA has taken include:

  • Improved Emergency Operations Center: Installed critical equipment in the LUMA Emergency Operations Center and purchased supplies to support ongoing emergency operations.
  • Coordinated Multi-Agency Training: Conducted multiple emergency preparedness tabletop exercises since January, with internal participants and with Puerto Rico and federal agencies.
  • Federal Partnerships: Enhanced critical partnerships with FEMA and the Department of Energy Emergency Support Function #12 (DOE ESF #12) to strengthen relationships and coordinate capabilities, services, technical assistance and engineering expertise during disasters and incidents that require a coordinated Federal Response.
  • Mutual Aid Agreements: LUMA has mutual aid agreements with the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and the American Public Power Association (APPA) for response to critical events in cases where additional resources for restoration and response become necessary.

Strengthening Emergency Inventory, Training & Readiness

In preparation for the 2022 hurricane season, LUMA has also made critical investments in inventory, personnel and training, essential vehicles and key materials as follows:

  • Nearly $130 Million Inventory of Critical Supplies: LUMA has cataloged its nearly $130 million inventory of emergency supplies to be used for emergencies and/or support other critical utility functions. LUMA’s on-hand inventory of transmission and distribution materials includes bulbs, transformers, poles, wiring and other components that are available for daily operations, emergency requirements and construction. On-hand materials include approximately 21,000 poles, 17,000,000 feet of conductor, wire and cable, 3,200 transformers, 58,000 LED luminaires, 154,000 insulators, 1,800 switches and breakers and 29,000 crossarms.
  • Personnel and Training: LUMA has over 1,000 field workers, from lineworkers to substation technicians, who are trained, available and equipped to respond to a serious emergency. Including many team members who have vast experience responding to large scale natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, windstorms and hurricanes. To date, LUMA workers have collectively undergone over 27,000 hours of training. LUMA team members undergo FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) training specific to the role that they fulfill in the ICS roster.
  • Essential Vehicles: In total, LUMA has over 1,000 fleet units, including 573 light duty vehicles, 558 heavy duty bucket trucks and 4 helicopters available for emergency response.

As part of today’s briefing, LUMA also shared a new video showcasing the company’s emergency preparedness efforts, including an inventory of materials at its main supply warehouse in Palo Seco, as well as an overview of training exercises and preventative measures already in place.

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.