The short version
- Metro Puerto Rico reports that Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz filed Senate Resolution 657 to have the government cover the cost of electric subsidies currently charged in customer bills using general fund resources
- The resolution calls for identifying funding from $904.2 million in reported contract savings within 60 days without new taxes according to Metro Puerto Rico
- Senate Bill 1636 would allow hospitals industries and businesses with their own generation systems to feed surplus energy into the grid Metro Puerto Rico reported
- Separately NotiCel and Telemundo Puerto Rico reported that the Senate approved House Bill 1092 with amendments to classify nuclear energy as a clean source and set a 2050 goal for all electricity from renewable or clean sources
Legislation filed to address electricity costs
On Friday, Nov. 13, Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz filed two measures aimed at reducing the economic burden of electricity on customers and increasing available power. Metro Puerto Rico reported.
Senate Resolution 657 proposes that the government use general fund resources to cover the cost of electric subsidies now included in customer bills. The measure seeks to maintain the subsidies for intended beneficiaries while shifting their cost away from other ratepayers. Metro Puerto Rico reported that funding would be drawn from $904.2 million in identified contract savings and that the measure gives the government 60 days to identify the resources and present corresponding legislation.
Rivera Schatz stated "La gente no puede seguir destinando una parte cada vez mayor de sus ingresos a pagar la factura de la luz" and added that the subsidies "tienen un propósito social importante y deben mantenerse para quienes los necesitan" according to Metro Puerto Rico.
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 gente no puede seguir destinando una parte cada vez mayor de sus ingresos a pagar la factura de la luz.
Our translation: People cannot continue allocating an ever-increasing portion of their income to pay the electricity bill.
The source's own statement, as quoted by Metro Puerto Rico. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Proposal to use surplus private generation
The second measure filed by Rivera Schatz Senate Bill 1636 would incorporate surplus energy produced by hospitals industries and commercial establishments with their own generation systems into the electric grid. Metro Puerto Rico reported.
The bill would create a separate category for this type of generation and specifies that existing net metering agreements for renewable energy including solar would remain unchanged. Rivera Schatz said "Puerto Rico cuenta con instalaciones con capacidad para producir energía adicional y debemos crear las condiciones para aprovecharla" Metro Puerto Rico reported.
Both initiatives seek to address electricity costs and improve service reliability factors that affect economic activity and quality of life according to statements by Rivera Schatz reported by Metro Puerto Rico.
Nuclear energy approved as clean source
In a separate action on Thursday the Senate approved with amendments House Bill 1092 which includes nuclear energy as a clean energy source for Puerto Rico. NotiCel reported and Telemundo Puerto Rico reported.
The bill amends public policy to establish that by 2050 all electricity in Puerto Rico should come from renewable or clean sources and repeals provisions that prohibit the use of nuclear reactors. It modifies the definition of clean energy to include nuclear generation that produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions. NotiCel and Telemundo Puerto Rico reported that approval does not authorize construction of a nuclear plant but changes the legal framework to consider the technology as an energy option.
The measure now heads to a conference committee NotiCel reported.
Where the sources differ
All three sources agree on the content of the measures they cover. Metro Puerto Rico reports exclusively on the two measures filed by Thomas Rivera Schatz on Nov. 13 while NotiCel and Telemundo Puerto Rico report on the Senate's approval of House Bill 1092 on nuclear energy and other legislation passed on the final day of the session. NotiCel and Telemundo Puerto Rico align on the details of the nuclear bill including the 2050 goal and repeal of the reactor prohibition but differ slightly in emphasis with NotiCel placing the vote in the context of multiple other bills approved that day.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state whether the two measures filed by Rivera Schatz have received committee referrals or have any scheduled votes. They provide no timeline for when subsidies might be shifted to the general fund or when surplus private generation could begin flowing to the grid. The articles do not indicate the expected reduction in residential or commercial bills or the volume of surplus energy that could be added to the system. No response from the executive branch the electric utility or environmental groups is mentioned.
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 Radican medidas para aliviar la factura eléctrica y ampliar la generación de energía
- Reporting Senado aprueba incluir energía nuclear como fuente de generación eléctrica
- Reporting Senado aprueba incluir energía nuclear como fuente de energía limpia
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico is the sole source for the filing of Senate Resolution 657 and Senate Bill 1636 including all quotes from Thomas Rivera Schatz and the $904.2 million savings figure. NotiCel and Telemundo Puerto Rico are the sources for the Senate approval of the nuclear energy legislation with both confirming the 2050 goal and the amendment to the clean energy definition.
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.