Puerto Rico Morning Brief Sunday, October 4, 2026

San Juan announced a $1,729,935 investment to buy and deliver rechargeable portable batteries with solar technology to about 400 people who depend on electric medical equipment. The batteries are meant to keep them healthy and safe during power outages. The money comes from $540,000 in CDBG funds, $800,000 in ARPA funds and $389,935 in CSBG funds. Mayor Miguel A. Romero Lugo said the batteries give participants an alternate power source, since they could face health risks if electric service is interrupted.

District 17 Representative Wilson Román López announced a $354.6 million investment in 15 water infrastructure projects in Aguadilla and Moca, aimed at improving potable water service in both municipalities. He said the funds come from the Capital Improvements Program, federal funds and CDBG-DR funds. Six of the projects are under construction, five are in the bidding process and four are in an advanced design stage.

The LNG tanker Amur River did not begin maneuvers on Sunday morning to enter San Juan Bay as announced, and New Fortress Energy confirmed that its arrival to supply liquefied natural gas to power generators was on hold. A company spokesperson first said the entry had not happened because of "legal matters." In written statements, the company said a recent order from the Energy Bureau (Negociado de Energía) has created uncertainty about payments for the natural gas it supplies under the contract.

Víctor Parés Otero, chair of the House of Representatives’ Government Committee, called a meeting this week between Applied Energy Solutions (AES) Puerto Rico and Luma Energy. They are to discuss connecting two solar and battery-storage projects that would add 485 megawatts to the electric system. According to Parés, the projects, in Salinas and Guayama, are finished but face a technical situation that prevents their integration into the grid. Of the 485 megawatts, 200 would come from solar generation and 285 from battery energy storage systems.

Messages in several government chats held by the House Government Committee reaffirm the conclusion that Energy czar Josué Colón committed perjury at a public hearing, according to committee chair Víctor Parés Otero. Parés said the first partial report of the investigation into the failed generation contract awarded to Power Expectations will be filed and referred to the authorities this week.

On AAA’s reservoir charts for the week of September 27 to October 4, Carraízo rose 11 cm while La Plata fell 60 cm. Carraízo went from 40.63 to 40.74 meters over seven days and sat in the seguridad band, with 2.31 inches of rain nearby in the final week.