Puerto Rico experienced an island-wide blackout on Wednesday, leaving all 1.46 million electricity consumers without power at one point.
As of 5:45 p.m. ET, more than 1 million Luma Energy customers did not have service, according to the company’s online status report.
Newsweek reached out to the press office at Puerto Rico’s Department of State via email.
“LUMA continues to work with generation partners to restore service across the island,” the company told Newsweek in an emailed statement after this story was published.
“We have begun the process of restoring the electrical system following the unexpected shutdown of all generation plants. The Palo Seco plant came online at approximately 3:00 p.m., marking a key step in the system recovery,” the statement continued.
The company said it’s continuing to work closely with Genera PR, EcoEléctrica, and AES to advance the restoration of service, referring to other major energy suppliers for the island. “Our Emergency Operations Center remains active, coordinating efforts with government agencies and technical personnel to ensure each step is carried out safely and efficiently.”
“Based on current projections, service restoration for 90% of customers may take between 48 and 72 hours,” Luma told Newsweek. “We will continue to provide official updates through our channels as restoration efforts progress.”
Why It Matters
Wednesday’s outage disrupted daily life across the U.S. territory, shutting down businesses, stranding commuters and forcing widespread reliance on generators. Power outages pose serious risks to older adults, infants and people requiring medical care, including those relying on electrically powered devices or refrigerated medications.
Puerto Rico has faced widespread power outages in the past, including an island-wide blackout on New Year’s Eve. The island’s power grid was severely damaged by the Category 4 Hurricane Maria in 2017 and authorities are still working to fully rebuild it.
Residential buildings and a hotel are darkened in San Juan, Puerto Rico, after a major power outage hit the island on December 31, 2024. Residential buildings and a hotel are darkened in San Juan, Puerto Rico, after a major power outage hit the island on December 31, 2024. AFP/Getty Images
What To Know
Luma Energy, a power distribution company on the island, on Wednesday afternoon wrote in a post to X, formerly Twitter, in Spanish, which translated to: “Approximately at 12:40 p.m., an event was recorded that affects the service island-wide.”
“The entire island is without generation,” a spokesperson for the energy company told the Associated Press (AP).
Genera PR, the company generating power on the island, said in a social media post in Spanish around 1:45 p.m. ET, translated to: “We have experienced a massive blackout across the entire island due to all of the power generation plants unexpectedly going offline.”
The reason for the blackout is not yet clear, with Governor Jenniffer González-Colón, who is outside of the territory, writing in Spanish in a social media post, which translated to: “Acting Governor Veronica Ferraiuoli and Energy Czar Josué Colón are diligently working with the entire energy sector in response to the blackout that has affected a large number of customers.”
Colón, the island’s energy coordinator and former head of Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority, called the situation “unacceptable,” per the AP.
The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) said that as of Wednesday afternoon, the island was in active communication with the White House and other “relevant federal agencies.”
Following today’s island-wide power outage, our administration is actively engaged in ongoing communication with the White House and all relevant federal agencies.
We are working closely with the federal government to ensure that Puerto Rico receives the necessary support and…
— PRFAA (@PRFAA) April 16, 2025
At least 78,000 residents also lost access to water, and officials estimate that full power restoration could take 48 to 72 hours.
The outage halted operations at Puerto Rico’s rapid transit system, forced the closure of shopping centers—including the Caribbean’s largest mall—and triggered widespread reliance on generators.
Democratic U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres of New York called the island’s failing electric grid “a humanitarian crisis.”
What People Are Saying
PRFAA wrote in an X post around 4 p.m. ET Wednesday: “Following today’s island-wide power outage, our administration is actively engaged in ongoing communication with the White House and all relevant federal agencies. We are working closely with the federal government to ensure that Puerto Rico receives the necessary support and that all essential services are restored as quickly and safely as possible.”
Torres said in an X post Wednesday: “The three million American citizens of Puerto Rico have long been denied affordable and reliable electricity—despite paying some of the highest utility rates in the United States. Access to dependable power—a basic right most Americans take for granted—remains out of reach for millions on the island. As we speak, more than 400,000 Puerto Ricans are without electricity in the wealthiest nation on Earth. That is a national disgrace.”
What Happens Next
It is unclear when full service will be restored to Puerto Rico, but it will likely take longer than 24 hours.
The blackout comes just days ahead of Easter weekend on the predominantly Christian island, with many residents set to take off work as part of Holy Week.
Update 4/16/25, 6:00 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 4/16/25 7:43 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with a statement from Luma Energy.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
