New Fortress Energy (NFE) failed to appear Monday before the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which is investigating the company’s use of the San Juan pier, among other matters. It is the third time the parent company of Genera PR has skipped a formal House summons, and committee chair José Hernández Concepción said he will subpoena NFE during the day under threat of contempt. 'This demonstrates the responsibility New Fortress has with the people of Puerto Rico, which is none,' the lawmaker said, adding 'If it were up to me, we would cancel the contract today.'
The company had sent a communication excusing one representative, who claimed to be in New York, but the committee had required trained personnel able to answer questions about contracts and daily operations. The hearing aimed to clarify why the vessel supplying natural gas stayed away from Puerto Rico for more than a month, forcing costlier fuels for power generation; Hernández Concepción said alternative fuels such as diesel would represent an additional expense of $15 million to $16 million, which could affect consumers’ electric bills.
Appearing under House Resolution 97 were Osvaldo Carlo, president of the Independent Procurement Office (3PPO); Fernando Osorio, interim executive director of PREPA (AEE); Edison Avilés, chair of the Energy Bureau; and Energy czar Josué Colón. Carlo said 3PPO amended its federal lawsuit against New Fortress to claim about $100 million for additional fuel costs, including every incident in which the company failed to deliver gas, and said the contract obligates NFE to cover the fuel cost difference; diesel can cost three to four times more than natural gas.
Avilés said the claimed costs remain suspended and have not been passed to consumers’ bills, but avoiding that depends on winning the court case: 'The responsibility is not the government of Puerto Rico’s, it is solely and exclusively New Fortress’s.'