Community Pharmacies Warn of Closures Due to Rising Electricity Costs
The Asociación de Farmacias de Comunidad de Puerto Rico says a recent rate hike and unreliable power service are forcing higher operational expenses that many independent pharmacies cannot absorb without cutting jobs, hours or closing.
File photoThe short version
- AFCPR president Isaías Serrano told Metro Puerto Rico and NotiCel that a 5.28-cent-per-kWh increase approved by the NEPR is causing monthly electricity bills of $1,000 to over $6,000 for community pharmacies
- Serrano and executive director Linda Ayala said more than 80 percent of community pharmacy revenue comes from dispensed prescriptions whose prices are set by PBMs and cannot be raised to offset costs
- The association reports approximately 850 community pharmacies in Puerto Rico that generate about 15,000 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs
- AFCPR sent a letter to NEPR president Edison Avilés outlining their concerns but received no response according to Ayala
Rate Increase and Operational Strain
The Asociación de Farmacias de Comunidad de Puerto Rico (AFCPR) warned on Thursday that high electricity costs and service instability are threatening the viability of community pharmacies across the island. Metro Puerto Rico reported that president Isaías Serrano denounced the situation could lead to closures and limit patient access to essential medications and health services.
On Sept. 30 the Negociado de Energía de Puerto Rico (NEPR) approved a 5.28-cent-per-kilowatt-hour increase in fuel and energy purchase charges effective from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 2026. According to the NEPR the hike represents a 17.1 percent rise for small and medium businesses and up to 19.7 percent for large industrial clients resulting in monthly increases ranging from $63.42 to $29,108.55. NotiCel reported that Serrano called on the NEPR director not to approve further increases to cover inefficiencies of contracted companies.
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Se está asfixiando, sobre todo a nuestras farmacias comunitarias, impidiendo que presten sus servicios.
Our translation: It is suffocating, above all our community pharmacies, preventing them from providing their services.
The source's own statement, as quoted by Metro Puerto Rico. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Impact on Medicine Storage and Services
AFCPR executive director Linda Ayala told Metro Puerto Rico that community pharmacies are being "estranguladas" by rising electricity water and operational costs amid a water crisis that has also forced them to seek alternatives. She said neither the energy nor water systems are resilient. Pharmacies must maintain uninterrupted cold chains for insulin vaccines and other biologics as required by the Departamento de Salud.
Serrano and Ayala noted that unlike large chains whose revenue largely comes from front-of-store sales more than 80 percent of community pharmacy income depends on prescription dispensing whose prices are fixed by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and by the government’s Plan Vital. They said they cannot pass the higher energy costs to patients. Serrano added that PBMs pay below cost and contracts cannot be renegotiated.
Calls for Attention and Potential Measures
The association sent a letter to NEPR president Edison Avilés on Feb. 5 outlining the situation but Ayala said it received no response and that he was negligent for not considering their comments or inviting them to explain how their health-service business operates. Serrano stated that owners may have to reduce staff modify operating hours or close locations which would affect service quality.
Ayala emphasized that constant power is needed not only for refrigeration but also for clinical services such as immunizations testing chronic-condition management and electronic systems for dispensing records and insurance billing. Both spokespeople stressed the role of the roughly 850 community pharmacies in providing essential access especially during emergencies or natural disasters.
Where the sources differ
Both Metro Puerto Rico and NotiCel report the same core warnings from AFCPR president Isaías Serrano and the 5.28-cent-per-kWh NEPR increase effective Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 2026 with identical percentage impacts (17.1% for small/medium businesses). Metro Puerto Rico includes additional comments from executive director Linda Ayala about being "estranguladas" the lack of response to their letter and details on water costs and cold-chain requirements. NotiCel mentions the letter was sent Feb. 5 while Metro does not specify the date. Both sources agree on the 850 pharmacies 80%+ prescription revenue dependence and inability to pass costs to patients.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state how many community pharmacies have already closed or reduced hours because of the latest increase. They do not provide the average monthly electricity bill for a typical community pharmacy or quantify total additional costs across all 850 locations. No information is given on whether the NEPR plans to respond to the AFCPR letter or hold any meetings with the association. Potential effects on specific patient groups or rural areas are not detailed.
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 Farmacias de la comunidad se sienten “estranguladas” por el costo de luz
- Reporting En precario las farmacias de la comunidad por el alto costo de la energía
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico and NotiCel both covered the AFCPR press statements by Isaías Serrano and Linda Ayala on the electricity cost crisis. Figures on the number of pharmacies and jobs as well as the NEPR-approved rate increase and its percentages appear in both outlets. Comments on the unreplied letter to Edison Avilés and the description of pharmacies being strangled appear only in Metro Puerto Rico.
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.