(Santurce, Puerto Rico, June 6, 2024) – Since the inception of the Local Emergency Operations Center (LEOC), LUMA has been closely monitoring the number of customers without service, with a particular focus on the significant outage affecting the southern part of Puerto Rico. Initially, 10,000 customers were affected, and through ongoing efforts, this number is expected to be reduced to 6,000 by next Monday.
Starting June 24, LUMA will commence a vegetation clearing initiative, an essential step to prepare for the hurricane season. The goal is to minimize the risk of service interruptions during adverse weather events. Additionally, progress is being made in implementing smart meters to modernize the infrastructure and improve the response to outages.
“LUMA is prepared to respond to the hurricane season with robust contingency plans and strategically prepositioned resources. Vegetation clearing remains a priority to reduce the risks of interruptions during this season,” said Juan Saca, Chief Executive Officer of LUMA.
A critical transformer that needs replacement has been identified, and logistical mobilization for its replacement is already underway. To address the outage in southern Puerto Rico, LUMA is moving generators from the west to the urban area of Coamo. This effort will help reduce the number of customers without service to 3,000 in the next two weeks, with a complete estimated time of restoration (ETR) within that period.
“Of the 10,000 customers affected by rotating outages, we expect to reduce this number to 6,000 by Monday and, in two more weeks, to 3,000 customers. Additionally, we are working to complete the transformer installation within four weeks. We are exploring all possible alternatives to resolve this situation as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Alejandro González, Director of Operations for LUMA’s central and southern division.
LUMA is advancing with a detailed contingency plan for restoring service to customers impacted by bad weather since June 1. Following its Emergency Response Plan, the company is committed to restoring electrical service to all its customers quickly and safely. Today, more than 1,000 field employees have been strategically deployed to continue these essential tasks, and specialized teams are mapping out the plan to stabilize service in Santa Isabel, Coamo, and Aibonito.
Part of the detailed plan to stabilize the system in the municipalities of Santa Isabel, Coamo, and Aibonito includes replacing the transmission line conductor, planned emergency improvements in these municipalities, and installing a mobile generator at the Coamo substation to stabilize service while equipment work is being done. The damaged transformer in Santa Isabel will also be dismantled for replacement.
LUMA has begun notifying affected entities of rotating service interruption schedules directly through text messages, automated notifications, and email. Notifications will also be shared via LUMA’s social media channels. It is important to note that critical loads, such as water pumps and hospitals, will not be affected and will have uninterrupted electrical service coordinated with the municipal personnel of each town.
Noriette Figueroa, Vice President of Customer Voice at LUMA, commented: “In response to our customers’ needs, we have identified and prioritized 300 critical customers to preserve life, such as those dependent on medical equipment. Starting at 10 a.m. today, we have begun calling these customers. Additionally, we have sent 5,500 text messages, 3,500 emails, and approximately 2,900 automated notifications. We encourage all our customers to keep their information updated in the system to receive the latest and most relevant information.”
LUMA will continue to provide updates to customers and the mayors of Santa Isabel, Coamo, and Aibonito. The Key Accounts Department of LUMA has maintained constant communication with the impacted municipalities.
LUMA is committed to actively working to identify long-term solutions and ensure robust and reliable electrical service for Santa Isabel, Coamo, and Aibonito. Alejandro González, Director of Lines for LUMA’s central and southern region, expressed: “We reiterate to our customers across Puerto Rico that we are committed to working hard to transform Puerto Rico’s electrical system. We ask everyone to make room for the LUMA brigade so they can do their work and ensure everyone’s safety.”
Communities That May Experience Rotating Service Interruptions from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.:**
| Municipio | Comunidades |
| Santa Isabel | BDA. MONSERRATE, BDA. SAN FELIPE, COME. PLAZA DEL MERCADO DE SANTA ISABEL, FGM. ALCALDÍA DE SANTA ISABEL, PARC. PLAYITA CORTADA, PARC. VELÁZQUEZ, SECT. CASCO URBANO, SECT. EL RÍO, SECT. JARAGUAZAL, SECT. VILLA POTE, URB. FLAMBOYÁN, URB. JARDINES DE SANTA ISABEL, URB. PASEO DEL MAR, URB. PASEO DEL MAR 2, URB. SANTIAGO APOSTOL, URB. VILLA CAMARERO 2, URB. VILLA RETIRO NORTE, URB. VILLA RETIRO SUR, URB. VILLAS DE CAMARERO 1, PARC. OLLAS NUEVAS, PARC. OLLAS VIEJAS, BDA. MONSERRATE, BDA. SAN FELIPE, COMU. PLAYA, SECT. CASCO URBANO, SECT. VILLA DEL MAR, URB. SAN MIGUEL, URB. VILLA DEL CARIBE, |
| Coamo | PARC. NUEVAS CUYÓN, PARC. VIEJAS CUYÓN, SECT. SANTA ANA, URB. EL BOSQUE, URB. JARDINES DE SANTA ANA, URB. LOS FLAMBOYANES, URB. MONTE REAL, URB. QUINTAS DE COAMO, URB. VALLE ESCONDIDO, URB. VILLA MADRID, URB. VILLA TAÍNA, CMPG. CAMP SANTIAGO JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, ZONA INDUSTRIA, VELÓDROMO DE COAMO. |
| Aibonito | EDU. ESCUELA PASTO, PARC. NUEVAS BARRIO PASTO, PARC. VIEJAS, SECT. EL COQUÍ, SECT. EL FRESAL, SECT. LA SIERRA, SECT. LOS ROLONES, SECT. REPRESA, SECT. RINCÓN, SECT. JAGÜEYES. |
From approximately 2:00 p.m., with restoration starting around 10:00 p.m. (subject to demand):
| Municipio | Comunidades |
| Coamo | BDA. SAN LUIS, BDA. ZAMBRANA, CEM. CEMENTERIO MUNICIPAL DE COAMO, COND. VISTAS DE SAMBRANA, EDU. ESCUELA ELEMENTAL JOSÉ RAMÓN RODRÍGUEZ, EDU. ESCUELA PURIFICACIÓN RODRÍGUEZ, PARC. NIAGARA, SECT. CASCO URBANO, URB. VILLA MADRID, URB. VILLAS DE SAN BLÁS, URB. VISTAS DE COAMO, BDA. SAN ANTONIO, EDU. ESCUELA BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, EDU. ESCUELA FLORENCIO SANTIAGO, RES. RESIDENCIAL LAS PALMAS, RES. RESIDENCIAL MANUEL J. RIVERA, SECT. CASCO URBANO, SECT. EL CERRO, URB. JARDINES DE COAMO, URB. JARDINES DE SAN BLÁS, URB. LAS COLINAS, URB. SAN ANTONIO, URB. VISTA DEL SOL, RES. RESIDENCIAL EL EDÉN, SECT. CASCO URBANO, URB. EL EDÉN, URB. EXTENSIÓN JARDINES DE COAMO, URB. VILLA CRISTINA, SECT. EL POLVORÍN, COME. PLAZA SANTA ISABEL, SECT. OBDULIA, URB. PARQUES DE JACARANDA, URB. PASEOS DE JACARANDA, URB. PORTALES DE JACARANDA. |
| Santa Isabel | PARC. JAUCA NUEVAS, PARC. JAUCA VIEJAS, SECT. CANTA SAPO, SECT. CASCO URBANO, SECT. EL MONTE, SECT. LA FLORIDA, SECT. LA PLAYA DE JAUCA, SECT. PLAYA TEXIDOR, SECT. YERVA DURA, URB. ALBORADA PARK, URB. LA HACIENDA, URB. VILLA JAUCA, BDA. FELICIA, BDA. SAN FELIPE, COMU. EL OJO, COND. SANTA ISABEL APARTMENTS, EDU. ESCUELA APOLONIA BALENTÍN, EDU. ESCUELA ESTHER RIVERA, EDU. ESCUELA MANUEL MARTÍN MONSERRATE, EDU. ESCUELA MARTÍN G. BRUMBAUGH, RES. RESIDENCIAL PEDRO M. DESCARTES, RES. RESIDENCIAL RINCÓN TAÍNO, SECT. CASCO URBANO, URB. ALTURAS DE SANTA ISABEL, URB. BUENOS AIRES, URB. ESTANCIAS DE SANTA ISABEL, URB. EXTENSIÓN ALTURAS DE SANTA ISABEL, URB. EXTENSIÓN EL TAÍNO, URB. EXTENSIÓN RESIDENCIAL EL CEMÍ, URB. HACIENDA CONCORDIA, URB. HACIENDA CONCORDIA 2DA SECC, URB. JARDINES DE SANTA ISABEL, URB. LLANOS DE SANTA ISABEL, URB. RESIDENCIAL EL CEMÍ, URB. VALLE DE SANTA ISABEL, COME. PLAZA OASIS, COME. PLAZA SANTA ISABEL, URB. BRISAS DEL PRADO, URB. PORTAL DE LA REINA, URB. PRADERAS DEL SUR, URB. PRADOS DEL SONADOR, URB. VALLE COSTERO, URB. VILLA SERENA, |
LUMA urges all customers using portable generators during service interruptions to take necessary precautions to avoid backfeeding, a dangerous phenomenon
that can jeopardize the lives of our employees and the community at large.
LUMA will continue to provide regular updates to keep all customers, municipal governments, and critical loads informed, ensuring the safety and well-being of the communities it serves.
For more information and updates, visit our social media or contact the LUMA Customer Service Center at 1-844-888-5862.
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, clean, and affordable electrical service they deserve. As a customer-centric company, LUMA’s entire workforce is focused on safely delivering an exceptional customer service experience to its 1.5 million customers.
