The Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (NEPR) approved a 1.34 cent increase per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in electricity bills for the July to September quarter, resulting in an additional $10.75 per month for the average residential customer, a 4.9% increase from the previous quarter. The new cost per kWh will be 28.5 cents starting July 1.
The increase is due to an adjustment to LUMA Energy's original proposal of 2.34 cents per kWh, based on data provided by Genera PR. The NEPR also evaluated certain gas supply expenses and deferred $13.29 million related to insufficient 'economic fuel' supply by New Fortress Energy and Naturgy, avoiding immediate transfer of these costs to consumers.
Commissioner Ferdinand Ramos Soeggard disagreed with the resolution, stating that it would have been better to impose the payment of $13.29 million on consumers instead of deferring it. The NEPR based the impact on the average residential customer's bill on a monthly consumption of 800 kWh.