LUMA Energy has expressed disagreement with a federal appeals court decision and insists it has the right to operate Puerto Rico’s electric system. The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston denied LUMA’s request to stop a remand order issued by federal judge Laura Taylor Swain, which will refer cases related to the alleged nullity of the contract extension back to Puerto Rico courts.
the uncertainty generated by attempts to annul its contract and the government's allocation of resources to pursue the legal process harms the essential services it provides to Puerto Ricans
LUMA stated that it will continue to defend its position as the system’s administrator and will exhaust all available legal means. The company argued that the legal dispute is unnecessary and that the federal court should handle the controversy, especially since the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) is under federal bankruptcy proceedings. LUMA also claimed that the uncertainty generated by attempts to annul its contract and the government’s allocation of resources to pursue the legal process harms the essential services it provides to Puerto Ricans and adversely affects efforts to transform the electric grid.
The company reiterated its commitment to operating the system and executing urgent projects, despite the fragile state of the electric infrastructure.