Governor rejects LUMA's new electricity rate increase request
Jenniffer González Colón called the proposal a "barbarity" and said LUMA is failing to perform maintenance while seeking to pass administrative costs to consumers.
PhotoThe short version
- Metro Puerto Rico reports Governor Jenniffer González Colón rejected LUMA Energy's new rate increase filing with the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau on Tuesday
- The governor said LUMA wants to pass more than administrative costs to the public while not doing its job on transmission and distribution
- NotiUno reported she described the request as a barbarity during an event at the Caribe Hilton hotel
- González Colón cited a 2025 blackout report that highlighted maintenance deficiencies including rodents in substations and lack of vegetation clearing
Governor criticizes LUMA proposal
Governor Jenniffer González Colón rejected a new electricity rate increase request filed by LUMA Energy with the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (NEPR). Metro Puerto Rico reported that she made the statements on Tuesday, Oct. 20 during an event at the Caribe Hilton hotel in San Juan.
The governor said it is unacceptable for the company to transfer administrative and operational expenses to consumers while failing to maintain the electric system. She referenced an Energy Bureau report on the 2025 blackout that pointed to deficiencies such as rodents in substations and lack of tree trimming that could have prevented the outage. Metro Puerto Rico reported.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Esto es aumento, aumento, aumento y, sin embargo, no están haciendo el trabajo.
Our translation: This is increase, increase, increase and yet they are not doing the work.
The source's own statement, as quoted by Metro Puerto Rico. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Focus on contract and alternatives
González Colón reiterated her administration's goal to replace LUMA as the operator of the transmission and distribution system with another private operator. She noted that legal controversies surrounding the company's contract are before the Supreme Court. The governor also said her economic team is evaluating options to ease the impact on families and businesses but did not disclose specific proposals. Metro Puerto Rico reported.
She questioned LUMA's intent to recover costs related to executives, bonuses and external contracts through rates. The governor added that priority should be given to lowering electricity costs rather than focusing on a moratorium on crude oil. Metro Puerto Rico reported.
Where the sources differ
Both Metro Puerto Rico and NotiUno reported on the same Tuesday event in which Governor Jenniffer González Colón rejected LUMA's new rate increase request. Metro Puerto Rico provided the most detail, including the governor's references to the 2025 blackout report, rodents in substations, lack of vegetation management, executive costs and her administration's plan to replace LUMA. NotiUno focused on her characterization of the request as a "barbarity" and carried audio of the remarks. The sources do not conflict on any facts.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state the amount of the proposed rate increase, when LUMA filed the request with the NEPR, or whether the Energy Bureau has taken any action on it. They also do not specify what alternatives the governor's economic team is studying to mitigate impacts on families and businesses or provide a timeline for replacing LUMA as system operator.
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.
- Official Gobernadora truena contra LUMA por nuevo aumento: “No están haciendo el trabajo”
- Reporting Gobernadora truena contra LUMA por nuevo aumento: “No están haciendo el trabajo”
- Reporting AUDIO - Gobernadora califica de "barbaridad" nuevo aumento solicitado por LUMA
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico supplied the primary detailed account of the governor's statements and policy positions. NotiUno corroborated the core criticism and the setting of the remarks. All information in the article rests on these two contemporaneous news reports.
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.