José Pérez Vélez, executive vice president of LUMA Energy, said on NotiUno 630 that the information request from the Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority (P3 Authority) is "a bit like raining on already soaked ground." Host Carmen Jovet noted that the authority’s executive director gave LUMA until the coming Tuesday, a five-business-day deadline, to explain the handling of about $1 billion in works budgeted for fiscal year 2026-2027 that have not been carried out.
The request also asks for a report on customer billing, use of grid reconstruction funds and vegetation control. Pérez said LUMA sends a public report on its operational status monthly to the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau and another to the authority as contract administrator. "As a law-and-order company we comply with all requirements made of us," he said, adding that the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA; AEE in Spanish) does not transfer the funds needed as contracted.
He said the state admitted in a filing before the Title 3 judge a figure near $800 million for operation and maintenance of generation, transmission and distribution. On generation, he said Genera faces major challenges with plants inherited from PREPA. He said LUMA energized its part of the Yabucoa solar project, between 32 and 35 megawatts, now in commissioning of the private portion.
Of about 400,000 smart meters installed, LUMA found no generalized problem, with about 99.9% reading correctly; he attributed higher bills to a rate increase the Energy Bureau approved about two months ago and the fuel adjustment. He said LUMA does not benefit financially from the meters, since payments go to PREPA. Asked about allegations of attempts to influence Supreme Court justices, he said such allegations are worrying for any party litigating in Puerto Rico’s courts.