Puerto Rico Independence Party (PIP) senators María de Lourdes Santiago Negrón and Adrián González Costa filed a measure to prevent electricity service from being cut off to people enrolled in the energy consumption subsidy who depend on equipment needed to preserve life or manage certain health conditions, as long as they have an outstanding debt and are under a payment plan. The proposal would also eliminate the requirement to submit a medical certification every year to keep the benefit.
"It makes no sense to demand a new certification every twelve months on pain of denying the energy consumption credit," the senator said.
González Costa said the initiative responds to the need to protect patients whose health depends on uninterrupted electric service, particularly given rising energy rates. He noted that the Senate rejected, during the last session, an amendment of his that sought to bar electricity cutoffs for families who were current on their payment plans. Santiago Negrón questioned the obligation to renew the medical certification annually when the conditions are permanent, such as multiple sclerosis, epidermolysis bullosa (known as "butterfly skin"), or the need for peritoneal dialysis.
"It makes no sense to demand a new certification every twelve months on pain of denying the energy consumption credit," the senator said. Both legislators urged the Senate majority to approve the proposal, saying it aims to protect people who simultaneously face electricity costs, medical needs and the paperwork required to keep the subsidy.