Hundreds protest LUMA Energy in San Juan over rising electricity bills
Demonstrators gathered Saturday in front of the utility's offices to denounce rate hikes, frequent blackouts and the cost-of-living increase, an action organized organically through social media.
File photoThe short version
- EFE reported that several hundred people marched in San Juan on Saturday, Oct. 24, shouting 'lucha sí, entrega no' outside LUMA Energy and AEE offices guarded by police
- The protest was called by merchant Christian Delgado after the electricity rate rose to 33.85 cents per kWh in early October, an 18.5 percent increase from the prior quarter, according to EFE
- LUMA Energy stated in a release that it is not responsible for the rate increase because it does not purchase fuel or generate electricity
- Governor Jenniffer González asked the fiscal oversight board to exempt the sales tax on prepared foods in November and December, but Delgado called the measure insufficient
Protest against rate hikes and blackouts
Hundreds of people protested on Saturday in San Juan against LUMA Energy and government policies over higher electricity bills and frequent power outages, EFE reported. The demonstration took place in front of the offices shared by LUMA Energy and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, which were guarded by a police deployment.
The protest was organized organically through social media by merchants affected by the latest rate increase. According to EFE, the rate rose at the beginning of October to 33.85 cents per kilowatt-hour, an 18.5 percent jump from the previous quarter and a record high that exceeds the U.S. average.
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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.
Si nosotros nos seguimos uniendo y haciendo este tipo de protestas y haciéndolas más grandes cada vez, vamos poder llegar a un fin
Our translation: If we keep uniting and holding these kinds of protests and making them bigger each time, we will be able to reach an end.
The source's own statement, as quoted by EFE. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
no es responsable del aumento en la tarifa de la luz al no comprar el combustible ni generar electricidad
Our translation: it is not responsible for the increase in the electricity rate as it does not purchase the fuel nor generate electricity
The source's own statement, as quoted by EFE. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Demonstrators and messages
Marchers carried Puerto Rican flags and signs reading 'LUMA fuera' and 'los aumentos son insostenibles', along with pots and a creative vest shaped like an electricity meter with the message 'Cuidado con el tiro al contador', HolaNews reported. Plena music and a Bad Bunny song were also heard during the march.
Christian Delgado, who called for the protest on social media, told reporters he had to close his business because of high electricity costs and plans to emigrate. He said many parties share responsibility. Delgado added that continued and growing protests could bring change, Diario Libre reported.
Official reactions
In response to the protests, LUMA Energy issued a statement saying it is not responsible for the tariff increase since it does not buy fuel or generate electricity, the main factors driving costs higher, according to EFE.
Governor Jenniffer González criticized LUMA Energy's performance and noted that her administration has a court case to end the contract with the company. She also asked the fiscal oversight board to exempt the sales-and-use tax on prepared foods for November and December as relief for high energy costs. Delgado said he believes the protest influenced that request but called the measure insufficient because it does not address the root problem, HolaNews reported.
Where the sources differ
All three sources are essentially identical wire-service reports from EFE. They agree on the date, location, size of the crowd, rate details, slogans, LUMA's statement, Delgado's comments and the governor's actions. There are no factual conflicts among the sources.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state how many customers were affected by the rate increase, the exact frequency or duration of recent blackouts, the current status of the court case to end the LUMA contract, whether the fiscal oversight board approved the tax exemption, or what concrete steps if any the government or LUMA plan to take on rates or reliability.
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 La subida de la factura de la luz y los frecuentes apagones detona en protestas en Puerto Rico
- Reporting La subida de la factura de la luz y frecuentes apagones detona en protestas en Puerto Rico
- Reporting La subida de la factura de la luz y frecuentes apagones detona en protestas en Puerto Rico
How we checked this
EFE supplied the original reporting carried by HolaNews and Diario Libre. All details on the protest size, rate figures, LUMA statement, Delgado's remarks and the governor's message rest on this single news agency 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.