Puerto Rico Rep. José "Cheito" Hernández sent a letter to the Independent Procurement Office (3PPO) asking it to go to court to claim from New Fortress the costs the government has incurred because of problems supplying natural gas for power generation. At a public hearing, Hernández said that after the recent controversy over a New Fortress barge too large to enter the port, the vessel supplied only 34 percent of the fuel required.
He said the company does not know when the next shipment will arrive on the island. Hernández said the supply should run out by Sunday or Monday at the latest, so the island could again go several days without natural gas service. He said New Fortress’s job is to make the two plants run on natural gas, which has not happened.
Of the two main units at the San Juan plant, units 5 and 6, only one runs on natural gas while the other uses diesel. Hernández said this could raise electricity bills next quarter, when generation costs are evaluated. His letter seeks to keep consumers from absorbing the costs of New Fortress’s transport and supply failures.
He said the tolling fee dispute and the expenses incurred before the barge’s arrival are already in court, and that none of the later costs should be charged to the public. He added that the supply failures and trouble coordinating another barge’s port entry could be a serious breach of contract and should be weighed as grounds for canceling the agreement.