More than a Million Without Power , in Puerto Rico, After Massive Blackout.
A fire at a Luma Energy power station on April 6 has left an estimated 1.2 million people without electricity.
Classes were canceled and government offices were shut down all across the island.
Puerto Ricans generally pay twice what mainland Americans pay for power, despite a greater level of poverty on the island.
This is horrible. To increase bills when you don’t provide a perfect service...the level of impunity
is absurd, Luisa Rosado, Río Piedras Resident, via NBC News.
The Luma Energy vice president stated that the power system "is being restored little by little.".
The people of Puerto Rico have to understand that it’s a system with a lot of years, Kevin Acevedo, Luma Energy vice president,
via NBC News.
Bringing back Puerto Rico’s system is a delicate and complicated process, Kevin Acevedo, Luma Energy vice president,
via NBC News.
Acevedo added that Luma is attempting to
restore power within 24 hours.
With hurricane season less than two months away, residents are worried about what may lie ahead.
Acevedo attempted to curb skepticism and fears that Puerto Ricans share when it comes to the fragility of the island's power system.
The system is fragile, no one is denying that, but we’re prepared, Kevin Acevedo, Luma Energy vice president,
via NBC News.
In a press conference on March 7, Luma officials stated that some of the faulty breaker equipment is more than 40 years old.
The breakers in question have a
life span of 30 years.
As of the afternoon of April 7, power had been restored to a small percentage of residents