Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González said she will keep pressing the Financial Oversight Board to approve a temporary elimination of the sales and use tax (IVU) on prepared food, and announced new measures to ease high electricity costs through the end of the year. On Thursday she presented proposals to Board director Robert Mujica at La Fortaleza.
One would provide direct financial relief to cover the five-cent increase the Energy Bureau approved for October to December, a fuel-adjustment rise that put the rate at 33.86 cents per kilowatt hour. She said resources have been identified, the Board asked for more information, and details will be made public once agreed. She said the aim is "at least to mitigate the increase," and that eligibility across residential, commercial and industrial customers and the duration are still being defined.
A new meeting with the Board is planned for next week. Speaking at the ASORE Restaurant Show 2026 in Miramar, she said the IVU proposal would cost $52 million in November and $60 million in December; it came from the restaurant association and she adopted it. She also said the government will file a federal lawsuit to be allowed to contract another supplier when New Fortress Energy fails to deliver natural gas and to use the San Juan dock the company administers.
She has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a pipeline to the San Juan and Palo Seco plants. Other measures include $3 million for energy support for 1,000 small businesses, $18 million for a home weatherization program, legislation for solar financing, and a moratorium on the single-use plastic ban for restaurants.