COMISIONADO RESIDENTE DETALLA ESCÁNDALO DE POWER EXPECTATIONS EN HEMICICLO CAMERAL — EXIGE RENDICIÓN DE CUENTAS
WASHINGTON, DC — El Comisionado Residente de Puerto Rico, Pablo José Hernández Rivera, detalló en el hemiciclo de la Cámara de Representantes la cronología del controversial contrato de $5,900 millones para generación de energía temporera en Puerto Rico. En su mensaje, exigió rendición de cuentas a las agencias gubernamentales responsables de supervisarlo y anunció que haría solicitudes de información conforme a su autoridad congresional.
El Comisionado Residente señaló que él y el excongresista Mark Greene plantearon preocupaciones bipartitas sobre irregularidades en el proceso de contratación el año pasado.
"Parece que la preocupación estaba justificada", dijo el Comisionado Residente.
El Comisionado Residente narró que el 28 de agosto de 2025, Power Expectations y Reyes Contractor obtuvieron un contrato de $5,900 millones para generación de energía temporera en Puerto Rico, pese a carecer de la pericia y capacidad financiera requeridas. El gobierno les ordenó formar un consorcio, y así incorporaron a Enchanted Rock, cuyo contrato fue firmado por una persona identificada como "Jhoby Weaks" —un puesto y una firma que, días después, Enchanted Rock denunció como falsos. Según el Comisionado Residente, la empresa también había recibido previamente una carta de un bufete que intentó extorsionarla, carta que el propio bufete luego negó haber enviado.
En lugar de rescindir el contrato o denunciar el fraude, las agencias responsables sustituyeron discretamente a Enchanted Rock por otra empresa. Casi dos meses después, trascendió el alegado fraude. Tras conocerse la noticia, la Junta canceló el contrato, y el gobierno, bajo presión pública, refirió el caso a las autoridades casi dos meses después de haberse enterado.
El Comisionado Residente exhortó al gobierno de Puerto Rico a rendir cuentas, señalando que el Congreso ha asignado $17,000 millones para proyectos de energía en la isla. Insistió en que buscará respuestas sobre qué sabía el gobierno, cuándo lo supo, por qué lo ocultó, y si el episodio refleja corrupción, incompetencia o ambas. También señaló las consecuencias reales del escándalo: apagones causados por la consiguiente falta de capacidad de generación de emergencia.
"El pueblo de Puerto Rico merece respuestas y rendición de cuentas. El Congreso, que ha asignado $17,000 millones para proyectos de energía en Puerto Rico, merece respuestas y rendición de cuentas", dijo el Comisionado Residente. "La gran mayoría de los puertorriqueños no somos corruptos ni incompetentes. Como la gran mayoría de los ciudadanos americanos y de los miembros del Congreso, detestamos la corrupción y le hacemos frente. Trabajemos juntos para restaurar el buen gobierno, castigar la corrupción, arreglar lo básico y volver a encender las luces en Puerto Rico."
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HERNÁNDEZ: FORGED SIGNATURE, HIDDEN FRAUD TAINT $5.9 BILLION PUERTO RICO ENERGY CONTRACT — DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY
Resident Commissioner says the government of Puerto Rico knew about the forgery and covered it up for nearly two months while Puerto Ricans suffered power outages
WASHINGTON, DC — Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to detail what he called a forged signature and cover-up at the heart of a $5.9 billion contract for temporary energy generation in Puerto Rico, and to demand accountability from the government agencies responsible for overseeing it.
Hernández noted that he and former Congressman Mark Greene raised bipartisan concerns about irregularities in the procurement process last year, cosigning a letter to the relevant agencies that went unanswered.
"It appears the concern was warranted," Hernández said.
According to Hernández, on August 28, 2025, Power Expectations and Reyes Contractor were awarded a $5.9 billion contract for temporary energy generation in Puerto Rico. Because the companies lacked the required expertise and financial capacity to perform the contract, the government agency overseeing the procurement directed them to find a partner and form a consortium.
Power Expectations and Reyes Contractor subsequently brought in Enchanted Rock, with a person identified as "Jhoby Weaks," described as "COO-Caribbean Operations," signing the contract on Enchanted Rock's behalf. The Financial Oversight and Management Board, which must approve contracts over $10 million, authorized the deal.
Days later, Hernández said, Enchanted Rock informed the government of Puerto Rico that it had not signed the contract — that "Jhoby Weaks" was not an Enchanted Rock employee, that the company had no "COO-Caribbean Operations" position, and that its signature had been forged.
Hernández further stated that before the alleged forged signature, Enchanted Rock received a letter from a law firm that the company said attempted to blackmail it. When Enchanted Rock followed up, the law firm denied sending the letter and denied ever representing Power Expectations or Reyes Contractor — indicating, according to Hernández, that the letter itself was also forged.
Rather than rescind the contract or report the apparent fraud, Hernández said the responsible government agencies quietly substituted Enchanted Rock with another company through an Assignment and Assumption Agreement.
Nearly two months later, an investigative journalist revealed that a signature had been forged on the $5.9 billion contract. Hernández said the government of Puerto Rico had known about the forgery and withheld that information from the public, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, and the Oversight Board. Following the report, the Oversight Board canceled the contract, and the government, under public pressure, referred the matter to law enforcement nearly two months after first learning of the forgery.
Hernández called on the government of Puerto Rico to provide answers, noting that Congress has appropriated $17 billion for energy projects on the island. He pressed for answers to what the government knew, when it knew it, why it was concealed, and whether the episode reflects corruption, incompetence, or both. He also pointed to the real-world consequences of the scandal: power outages caused by the resulting lack of emergency generation capacity.
"The people of Puerto Rico deserve answers and accountability. Congress, which has assigned $17 billion for energy projects in Puerto Rico, deserves answers and accountability," Hernández said. "The vast majority of Puerto Ricans are neither corrupt nor incompetent. Like the vast majority of our fellow American citizens and members of Congress, we detest corruption and we stand up to it. Let's work together to restore good governance, punish corruption, fix the basics, and turn the lights back on in Puerto Rico.”
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