Infrastructure

Deteriorated Utility Pole Poses Danger to San Juan Residents

Published Sep 27, 2026, 8:35 PM ASTvia WAPA TV

At a glance

  • A deteriorated utility pole in San Juan poses a danger to residents
  • Residents have filed multiple complaints with LUMA Energy without receiving a solution
  • Voltage problems have damaged several appliances in the community

Why this matters: For San Juan residents, particularly those with vulnerable family members like Nora’s mother with Alzheimer’s, the deteriorated pole and voltage problems pose a direct threat to their safety and property.

A deteriorated and termite-infested utility pole in San Juan poses a danger to residents, who fear it could cause an accident or fire. The pole, which has been in disrepair since Hurricane Maria, is tilted and surrounded by cables, with advanced deterioration at its base. Residents have filed multiple complaints with LUMA Energy, but have not received a solution.

One resident, Nora, who lives with her 76-year-old mother with Alzheimer’s and a 71-year-old adult, is particularly concerned about the pole’s condition, especially since some homes in the area have wooden roofs. The community is also experiencing voltage problems, which have damaged several appliances, including two refrigerators, three microwaves, and a washer. Residents are calling on LUMA Energy to address the situation and take necessary measures to prevent the pole’s deterioration from becoming a greater risk to the community.

They expressed frustration and lack of trust in both the government and LUMA Energy, feeling helpless in the face of the situation.

In context (787daily, from public data)

  • LUMA's portal showed 0.5% of customers out at 6:05 AM AST on Nov 12, 2026. Across the 67 days 787daily has tracked it, the daily average is 0.2% and the worst was 1.8% on Sep 30, 2026.

    LUMA Energy outage portal · Nov 12, 6:05 AM AST
  • Customers in LUMA's San Juan region averaged 29.2 hours without power in the fiscal year that ended in June 2026, against 27.6 hours island-wide.

    LUMA operates the transmission and distribution system. A LUMA region is a utility district named for its hub town, not that town alone.

    PR Energy Bureau, as filed by LUMA · fiscal year ending June 2026
  • San Juan

    336,160Census estimate, 2020–20241521Founded47.9 sq mi (124 km²)Area
SourceWAPA TV

More in Infrastructure