Puerto Rico goes dark again: 1.4 million hit by island-wide blackout amid deepening energy crisis

Puerto Rico was once again plunged into darkness on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, after a massive island-wide blackout left an estimated 1.4 million residents without electricity. The widespread outage is the second major grid failure to hit the U.S. territory in just four months, intensifying concerns over the reliability of its power infrastructure and sparking renewed calls for urgent reform.

According to LUMA Energy, the private company responsible for transmission and distribution, the outage was caused by a system failure recorded at approximately 12:40 p.m. Genera PR, the entity overseeing power generation, was also affected, resulting in a complete loss of power across the island. Both companies confirmed that they are investigating the root cause of the failure, while emergency crews are working to restore electricity in phases.

In a public statement posted on social media, LUMA said its teams were in “constant communication” with other agencies to identify the cause and restore power “as safely and quickly as possible.” Restoration is expected to take between 24 to 48 hours, depending on the complexity of repairs and grid load management.

Why did Puerto Rico’s entire power grid fail again?

The cause of the April 16 blackout has not yet been officially determined, but LUMA Energy confirmed it involved a system-wide failure in the transmission and generation networks. Analysts have suggested that faults in switching mechanisms or grid management systems could have triggered cascading shutdowns across the island’s aging infrastructure.

This latest event follows a similar island-wide outage in December 2024 and comes amid rising public frustration over LUMA Energy’s performance since it assumed control of the power grid in June 2021. The blackout also raises questions about the progress of infrastructure rebuilding efforts launched after the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Despite a $10.7 billion reconstruction grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aimed at upgrading Puerto Rico’s power systems, many key projects remain delayed or incomplete. Power reliability has improved in certain regions, but the grid remains vulnerable to both mechanical faults and natural disasters.

How is the blackout affecting daily life and public services?

The effects of the blackout were immediate and widespread. In the capital city San Juan and across other major population centres, traffic signals failed, public transportation systems were halted, and schools and businesses closed their doors. Emergency generators are now powering hospitals and critical infrastructure, but fuel supply chains are under pressure as demand spikes.

The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority reported that over 78,000 residents were left without running water due to electricity-dependent pumping systems. Telecommunication providers also reported service disruptions, further complicating coordination efforts for emergency responders and utility repair crews.

The Department of Education ordered schools to remain closed on Thursday, and government offices implemented remote working arrangements where feasible. Meanwhile, grocery stores and fuel stations across the island experienced long lines, with some rationing supplies due to uncertainty around power restoration timelines.

What are residents and officials saying about LUMA and Genera?

Public anger continues to grow toward both LUMA Energy and Genera PR, with residents taking to social media and radio talk shows to voice their dissatisfaction. Many have criticised the companies’ slow response times, communication failures, and repeated assurances that have not translated into more stable service.

Political leaders echoed these concerns. Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González, who was travelling during the blackout, stated in a video message that she was closely monitoring the situation and that “every agency of the government” had been mobilised to assist restoration efforts. She added that her office was in contact with the White House and federal emergency agencies.

Several legislators have called for the immediate cancellation or restructuring of LUMA and Genera’s contracts, arguing that the repeated failures reflect deeper systemic issues with how Puerto Rico’s energy sector is being managed.

Why does Puerto Rico’s power infrastructure remain so fragile?

Puerto Rico’s power grid is among the most outdated and fragile in the United States. Most of its infrastructure was built decades ago and has suffered from chronic underinvestment, poor maintenance, and political mismanagement. While Hurricane Maria in 2017 accelerated plans for a modernisation push, implementation has been slow, hampered by bureaucratic hurdles, supply chain disruptions, and contract disputes.

Critics argue that outsourcing critical infrastructure to private operators like LUMA and Genera was intended to depoliticise the grid and streamline upgrades. However, those goals remain unmet as outages have become more frequent and restoration timelines longer. In addition, the complex structure—where separate entities oversee generation, transmission, and distribution—has led to finger-pointing when problems arise.

Recent reports have indicated that solar power adoption and distributed energy resources are increasing across Puerto Rico, offering some hope for decentralised resilience in the future. But until systemic investments in grid-wide upgrades are realised, experts warn that island-wide outages may continue to be a recurring issue.

What happens next for Puerto Rico’s energy future?

In the wake of this latest blackout, federal and local pressure is mounting to rethink Puerto Rico’s approach to energy governance. The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration confirmed that coordination is underway with the Department of Energy and FEMA to ensure emergency resources are available and to accelerate long-delayed modernisation projects.

There is growing bipartisan support in Washington for holding LUMA and Genera accountable through contract renegotiations, public audits, and performance-based reviews. However, any structural change will require cooperation between the Puerto Rican government and U.S. federal authorities, both of which are navigating political sensitivities tied to previous reconstruction efforts.

Energy experts say Puerto Rico needs a more diversified and decentralised power generation model—one that leans into renewable sources like solar and wind, while building local storage capacity and smart-grid systems. Until then, millions of residents remain exposed to a precarious energy system that continues to falter under stress.