Infrastructure

Diesel Cost Adjustment to Affect Electricity Tariffs in Puerto Rico

Published Sep 28, 2026 · via El Nuevo Día

The Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (NEPR) is analyzing a tariff adjustment requested by LUMA Energy, which will take effect on Thursday. The main factors in the adjustment are the problems with the natural gas supply and the additional cost of using diesel as an alternative. According to José Carrasco, manager of the Fuel Department at Genera PR, the estimated cost of using diesel at the San Juan power plant is $15.4 million, while the cost for the temporary units and MobilePac units at Palo Seco is $2.2 million.

The total cost of diesel was later adjusted to over $32 million, including a supply to the Costa Sur power plant. LUMA Energy's Director of Research and Forecasts, Joselin Estrada Rivera, stated that this amount will be recognized as a deferred cost credit to customers, adding to the approximately $70 million in delayed payments that are in dispute with New Fortress Energy (NFE) and Naturgy due to alleged non-compliance with natural gas deliveries since 2024.