Carmelo Ríos to meet ASORE over electricity rate hike impact on restaurants

The short version

• NotiUno reported that Carmelo Ríos will meet Sonia Navarro of ASORE to evaluate options such as menu changes, expense reductions and temporary technical or economic aid
• El Nuevo Día reported that ASORE president Sonia Navarro said the sector has reached its limit after multiple electricity bill increases this year plus costs from the summer water shortage
• The Puerto Rico Energy Bureau approved a new electricity rate of 33.86 cents per kilowatt-hour on Sept. 30 according to both outlets
• The food service industry generates about 58,000 direct jobs and contributes more than $3 billion annually to the economy according to 2024 Department of Labor data cited by NotiUno

Meeting to seek alternatives without raising consumer prices

Senate Vice President Carmelo Ríos announced he will call a meeting with Sonia Navarro, president of the Asociación de Restaurantes de Puerto Rico (ASORE), to discuss the impact of the recent electricity rate increase on the restaurant industry. NotiUno reported that the initiative follows warnings from Navarro that restaurants have reached the limit of what they can absorb without passing costs to customers. Ríos said through written statements that the comments from ASORE leadership are concerning and that the goal is to discuss realistic alternatives without affecting the public.

Both NotiUno and El Nuevo Día reported that the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau approved an increase to 33.86 cents per kilowatt-hour on Sept. 30. Navarro told El Nuevo Día that restaurants faced several rate hikes during the year and additional expenses from the summer water supply crisis handled by the Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados. She noted that many establishments cannot install photovoltaic systems due to lack of roof space or other limitations.

What the sources posted

Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.

Las recientes expresiones del liderato de ASORE sobre que llegaron al ‘límite’ de lo que pueden absorber sin pasar costo al consumidor, son preocupantes, por eso estaremos convocado a la Presidente de la organización a una reunión para dialogar con franqueza sobre las alternativas reales que se pueden ejecutar sin afectar a la gente

Our translation: The recent statements from ASORE leadership that they have reached the 'limit' of what they can absorb without passing the cost to the consumer are concerning, which is why we will be calling the president of the organization to a meeting to speak frankly about the real alternatives that can be executed without affecting the people

The source's own statement, as quoted by NotiUno. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.

Industry seeks ways to absorb costs

Navarro explained in the El Nuevo Día interview that some restaurants are adjusting menus to focus on specialties, changing light bulbs and switching supply brands. She said the sector requested a space with energy industry organizations to analyze the broader impact. According to NotiUno, Ríos mentioned studying temporary technical or economic aid and stressed that inaction is not an option, especially in his Bayamón district where many restaurants operate.

NotiUno cited 2024 data from the Department of Labor and Human Resources indicating that the prepared-food industry in Puerto Rico generates around 58,000 direct jobs and contributes more than $3,000 million annually to the economy, including taxes and contributions. The announced meeting aims to identify measures that prevent the higher energy costs from reaching consumers.

Where the sources differ

NotiUno and El Nuevo Día largely agree on the core facts: the Sept. 30 rate approval to 33.86 cents per kWh, ASORE's warning that it has reached its limit, and Navarro's statements on inability to install solar systems and the need for alternatives. NotiUno focuses on Ríos's announcement of the meeting, his specific proposals for aid, and the 58,000 jobs and $3 billion economic contribution figure. El Nuevo Día provides more detail from Navarro's interview on prior quarterly increases of 20-30 percent, extra summer water costs, customer behavior such as sharing plates, and the sector's resilience question. Both name the same key individuals and the Energy Bureau action.

What the reports do not say

The reports do not specify when the meeting between Ríos and Navarro will take place, what exact amount of the latest rate increase will fall on restaurants, whether any government aid is already budgeted, or how many restaurants might be forced to close or raise prices if no solutions are found. They also do not detail the exact difference between the requested and approved rate increase or provide updated employment numbers beyond the 2024 data.

Sources

Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.

1. Reporting Carmelo Ríos convocará a ASORE por impacto del alza en la luz en restaurantesNotiUno (NotiUno) · notiuno.com · Spanish · checked Oct 12, 4:16 PM AST
2. Reporting “Llegamos al límite”: dueños de restaurantes alertan sobre el impacto del alza en la luzEl Nuevo Día (El Nuevo Día) · elnuevodia.com · Spanish · checked Oct 12, 4:16 PM AST

How we checked this

NotiUno first reported Carmelo Ríos's decision to convene ASORE and included the senator's full written comments plus the economic impact data. El Nuevo Día published a separate interview with Sonia Navarro offering her direct perspective on cumulative increases and operational adjustments. The rate figure and date of approval are corroborated by both outlets while the job and contribution statistics rest solely on the NotiUno account.

Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.