An unforgettable night. It is this that left the large chunk of the island dark. New Year’s Eve did not usher in the sound of clinking glasses and joyous countdowns. The celebration had been interrupted by candlelight and tunes from a battery-powered radio, as the residents could recall the plight and resilience of their beleaguered communities.
What Did Actually Happen?
It actually started even before 12 o’clock. Reports of widespread power outages came through a few hours before New Year’s Eve. Especially after having already dealt with innumerable challenges to its fragile power grid, the extra strain of the holiday season seems to have broken its back. According to a LUMA Energy statement, the company assigning public power to the grid, the blackout was caused by a combination of equipment failure and a large spike in electricity use.
Ingrained Issues
To their minds, the blackout served as a reminder of Puerto Rico’s never-ending panoply of issues concerning energy infrastructure. Ever since the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria that obliterated the power grid in 2017, steps aimed at bringing modernization and stability to the system have been slow, beaten more often than not in the court of public opinion – billions of dollars have been made available in aid for repairs, blocked time and again by red tape, pork barreling, political fighting, and logistical difficulties.
“For many people, this isn’t just about New Year’s Eve. It’s about a failing system, so how do we move forward when dragging this burden along behind us?” said local Isabel Rivera, who spent the night at home playing board games with her family by candlelight.
