Puerto Rico Morning Brief Monday, November 2, 2026

Intense heat, passing showers and afternoon thunderstorms in the interior and western areas of Puerto Rico will dominate Monday’s weather, the National Weather Service said. The agency is also watching the risk of flooding and dangerous rip currents at several beaches. Early Monday, November 2, passing showers are expected over the U.S. Virgin Islands and eastern Puerto Rico, which could pool water on roads and in poorly drained areas. Heat indexes could exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in urban and lower-elevation areas of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The weather service recommended staying hydrated and taking precautions against heat-related illness.

LUMA Energy’s smart meters, which automatically transmit each customer’s electricity use, are under scrutiny from the island’s energy czar, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The scrutiny follows complaints of unusual increases in electric bills. On October 24, Josué Colón Ortiz, executive director of the Public-Private Partnerships Authority and energy czar, gave LUMA five days to report whether the meters contributed to unexplained increases, identify affected accounts and present a corrective plan. LUMA replied that its billing systems are reliable and that it had found no irregularities. The company says about 30% of current meters are over 20 years old.

Puerto Rico Independence Party senators María de Lourdes Santiago Negrón and Adrián González Costa filed a measure to bar power cutoffs for some people in the energy consumption subsidy. It covers those who depend on equipment needed to preserve life or manage certain health conditions, as long as they have an outstanding debt and are under a payment plan. The proposal would also eliminate the requirement to submit a medical certification every year to keep the benefit. González Costa noted that the Senate rejected, during the last session, an amendment of his that sought to bar cutoffs for families who were current on their payment plans.

NFEnergía, LLC, a New Fortress Energy subsidiary, must say on Monday, November 2, which vessel will carry the next liquefied natural gas cargo and when it would dock in San Juan Bay. The answer is due before the Amur River’s reserves run out. Otherwise Puerto Rico could face several days without natural gas, forcing diesel use at the San Juan power plant. The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) says the company owes about $45.8 million in 2026 "Deliver or Pay" penalties. That total includes about $13.8 million for January to July and an estimated $32 million for the interruption from September 16 to October 13.

Five school transportation companies have formally asked the Puerto Rico General Services Administration’s Auction Review Board to revoke the award of a bid to provide school transportation for the public school system next year. They also want a new bidding process. Cotto Bus Line, Transporte A. Cruz, Transporte Escolar SR, Transporte Escolar Víctor and Transporte Rosado filed the appeal on October 23, citing "acts of arbitrariness and excess of authority." The board issued its award resolution on September 11. On October 2 it issued an amended resolution selecting 147 proposals.

Puerto Rico’s consumer prices keep eroding the purchasing power of households and businesses, according to the Consumer Price Index published October 26 by the Labor and Human Resources Department. The index reached 144.673 points in September, up 0.5% from August and 3.8% from September 2025. Transportation prices rose 9.7% over the year.