The Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (NEPR) of the Public Service Regulatory Board announced on Tuesday that it has approved an increase of 1.34 cents per kilowatt hour for the next quarter, effective July 1. This increase is lower than the 2.34 cents per kilowatt hour requested by LUMA Energy.
The current cost per kilowatt hour is 27.23 cents and will increase to 28.57 cents. The NEPR did not explain how this increase will impact the average consumer's budget.
Additionally, the NEPR made determinations to protect the public interest and mitigate the impact of energy costs on consumers, including deferring $13.29 million in costs related to insufficient fuel supply from New Fortress and Naturgy. Commissioner Ferdinand Ramos Soeggard disagreed with the decision in a written opinion, stating that he would have imposed a different rate on consumers.