The public affairs secretary for Governor Jenniffer González’s office at La Fortaleza, Jean Peña Payano, criticized LUMA Energy president Janisse Quiñones on Sunday for a public video, released last week, in which she expressed solidarity with residents and merchants facing significantly higher electric bills. Speaking at the weekly 'Asunto Semanal' press conference, Peña Payano said he could not believe LUMA executives who earn $750,000 a year, or $300,000 and up, claimed to understand the pain of customers living paycheck to paycheck, calling the executives 'disconnected from reality'.
Quiñones had acknowledged in her message that the rate increase 'weighs’ on budgets and pointed to Genera PR and the Energy Bureau as responsible for the fuel-cost adjustments. Since October 1, the residential rate is 33.86 cents per kilowatt-hour, the highest at least since 2020. On Friday, González announced three alternatives, not yet endorsed by the Oversight Board, including exempting prepared foods from the sales and use tax (IVU) in November and December, which Peña Payano estimated would cost about $20 million monthly.
She also proposed a $3 million energy incentive for about 1,000 small and midsize businesses, and aid for buying energy-efficient appliances. Peña Payano said removing the petroleum excise tax, known as 'la crudita', is not under consideration because that revenue is pledged to government obligations.