LOCAL & MAINLAND UTILITY FIELD CREWS TO BE DEPLOYED TO ASSIST IN STORM DAMAGE/SERVICE RESTORATION EFFORTS

San Juan, Puerto Rico, September 16, 2022 – Today, in preparation for Tropical Storm Fiona, LUMA announced the continued actions being taken to prepare for anticipated severe weather and significant power outages throughout the weekend. In preparation for severe weather, LUMA has mobilized its Emergency Operations Center and is readying local and mainland utility resources including the deployment of additional resources, from LUMA’s parent companies to help reinforce LUMA’s local resources, equipment and personnel. According to most recent National Weather Service reports, Tropical Strom Fiona is expected to bring heavy rain, 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 parts of Puerto Rico.

“We want our customers to understand, Tropical Strom Fiona is a serious storm. We urge them to take precautions to stay safe. In preparations for the storm, and the likely outages that will result, LUMA is pre-positioning equipment and crews so that we can respond quickly and restore power as safely as possible. We will continue to provide updates on the status of the storm, and we will be coordinating all response and restoration activities in close cooperation with our municipal and government partners. Working together, we will be ready to respond and overcome Tropical Storm Fiona” said Wayne Stensby, President and Chief Executive Officer of LUMA.

Among the actions LUMA has taken to date to prepare for Tropical Storm Fiona include the following:   

1. Activating the LUMA Emergency Operations Center and deploying company representatives to the central government’s Emergency Operations Center, as indicated in LUMA’s Emergency Management Plan.
2. Mobilizing 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. Deploying additional utility resources, equipment and personnel to the island for emergency response. This Storm Fleet will be prepositioned and provide additional support to LUMA’s field utility crews.  
4. Deploying and positioning its 1,800+ fleet for emergency response.
5. 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.
6. Deferring all planned reliability work in order to prioritize and dedicate all available resources to storm response.
7. Conducting 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.
8. Coordinating 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.
9. mutual aid providers so that in the event of the need for additional response resources, the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (Carilec), the American Public Power Association (APPA) and other organizations that can provide assistance with restoration efforts.

As part of its storm preparations, LUMA is also communicating through its customer channels what customers must 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

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.