The short version
- Casa Pueblo proposed making solar the primary generation source to lower bills and reduce fossil fuel dependence, Primera Hora reported on Friday
- The group cited economist José Caraballo Cueto saying electricity costs rose 37% in the past five years, according to El Vocero
- It called for a daytime rate with zero fuel adjustment and using fossil fuels only when necessary, El Nuevo Día reported
- Casa Pueblo highlighted over 400 solar installations and five community microgrids in Adjuntas as a model
Proposal for collective solar transition
Casa Pueblo presented a proposal on Friday for Puerto Rico to transform its energy model by making solar its main source of electricity generation. The organization, based in Adjuntas, argued this would reduce the high cost of electricity and address the crisis in the electric system. Primera Hora reported that the group said the island has the technology, knowledge and economic resources to develop large-scale solar infrastructure without greater dependence on natural gas.
Arturo Massol Deyá, executive director of Casa Pueblo, stated that privatization and the introduction of natural gas had not lowered costs as promised. All three outlets quoted him saying: “Por años, nos repitieron que la privatización y la gasificación de las plantas generatrices reducirían el costo energético. Nos mintieron.” The organization noted that problems with infrastructure, system instability and blackouts have persisted since LUMA Energy took over grid operations in 2021 and Genera PR assumed generation in 2023.
Also on PuertoRico.com: Puerto Rico power and water outages
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
La solución a esta debacle no es individual, sino colectiva.
Our translation: The solution to this debacle is not individual, but collective.
The source's own statement, as quoted by Casa Pueblo. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Criticism of fossil fuels and call for policy changes
Casa Pueblo questioned continued reliance on fossil fuels, noting that Puerto Rico does not produce oil, its derivatives or natural gas, making costs subject to international markets and transportation expenses. It rejected new gasification initiatives, gas pipelines and a proposed submarine cable to the Dominican Republic. The group urged the government and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority to provide solar-generated energy to all customers through the grid, regardless of whether they have their own photovoltaic systems or batteries.
The proposal includes establishing a daytime rate with zero fuel adjustment charge. Casa Pueblo argued that since a significant part of the bill covers fuel costs, solar generation during peak production hours would eliminate that component, with fossil fuels used only as backup. It also dismissed LUMA's claims of net metering saturation, stating that the country must define its energy model and the company must adapt the grid for more decentralized solar connections. The organization called for government and federal reconstruction funds to support renewable infrastructure, community projects and citizen solar investments.
Local example and 2050 renewable goal
In Adjuntas, more than 400 solar installations have been developed in residences, businesses and critical infrastructure, along with five community microgrids, according to the group. Its Community Laboratory for Energy Transition continues researching ways to replicate interconnected microgrid models elsewhere and is available to share its knowledge. Casa Pueblo called on workers, communities, small and medium businesses, farmers, industries, hotels, restaurants, churches, schools and universities to demand solar energy from the government and the utility.
Massol Deyá said there is no reason to delay the transition if the goal is 100% renewable energy by 2050. He added that the shift to gas has not been quick or cheap and that Puerto Rico has the resources for permanent solar infrastructure.
Where the sources differ
All three sources agree on the core proposal to make solar the main energy source, the 37% cost increase cited from economist José Caraballo Cueto, the quote from Arturo Massol Deyá about being lied to regarding privatization and gasification, the call for a daytime rate with zero fuel adjustment, rejection of LUMA's net metering claims, and the Adjuntas example of over 400 installations and five microgrids. El Nuevo Día and El Vocero include the 2050 renewable goal reference and criticism of gas as a delay tactic; Primera Hora adds opposition to the submarine cable. Minor differences exist in emphasis, with El Nuevo Día focusing more on desperate consumer testimonies.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not specify the current average residential electricity rate, the exact percentage of the bill attributed to fuel costs, the estimated cost or timeline for the proposed solar infrastructure buildout, or any response from LUMA Energy, Genera PR, the government or the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority to Casa Pueblo's proposal. They also do not detail how the zero-fuel daytime rate would be funded or structured in practice.
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.
- Reporting Casa Pueblo presenta su receta para bajar el alto costo de la luz en Puerto Rico
- Reporting Casa Pueblo propone que Puerto Rico transicione a la energía solar para reducir el costo de la luz
- Reporting Casa Pueblo solicita al gobierno transición a energía solar para bajar la factura de luz
How we checked this
Primera Hora, El Vocero and El Nuevo Día all reported on the same Casa Pueblo press release and proposal issued on Friday. Details such as the 37% cost increase, the Adjuntas projects and most quotes appear across multiple outlets, while specific phrasing on certain policy rejections rests on single sources.
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.
Nils Huenerfuerst / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0PuertoRico.com is free, and readers like you keep it that way.
The PuertoRico.com newsroom checks every story against its sources and publishes it free. If this one helped, a contribution of any size keeps the next one free too.
Secure checkout by Stripe: card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Link.
One payment, nothing to sign up for.
Contributions go to Puerto Rico.com, LLC. They are not charitable donations and are not tax-deductible. Payments are processed by Stripe.
Thank you for keeping PuertoRico.com free.
Your contribution went through. It helps pay for the next story.
Contributions go to Puerto Rico.com, LLC. They are not charitable donations and are not tax-deductible. Payments are processed by Stripe.