Hernández, Torres & Soto Urge President Trump to Declare Federal Emergency Declaration on Puerto Rico’s Ongoing Electric Grid Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández, joined by U.S. Representatives Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and Darren Soto (D-Fla.), urged President Donald J. Trump to declare a federal emergency in response to Puerto Rico’s ongoing electric grid crisis, which continues to jeopardize the health, safety, and economic security of residents and businesses on the island.

“Puerto Rico needs an expedited, practical approach to stabilize the grid in the short term and build resilience for future natural disasters and unexpected disruptions. A federal emergency declaration would provide regulatory flexibility and accelerate the deployment of critical energy resilience projects,” wrote the lawmakers.

The request follows the December 31, 2024, blackout that left over 1.2 million residents without power, triggering a chain reaction that affected all generating assets and underscoring the grid’s ongoing vulnerability. This was not an isolated incident; in June 2024, a similar blackout impacted 340,000 residents. As of today, LUMA Energy, the electricity company of Puerto Rico, has left up to 14,000 residents still facing power outages.

The lawmakers called on the President to take swift action, emphasizing that federal intervention is essential to strengthening Puerto Rico’s energy infrastructure and preventing future crises.

Click HERE to read the letter.

###