**Puerto Rico Blackouts: A Year of Continued Power Outages**
**Who:** Yvonne Santiago and the people of Puerto Rico
**What:** Facing ongoing power outages
**Where:** Puerto Rico
**When:** New Year’s Eve, 2024
**Why:** Due to the failure of the island’s energy infrastructure
**How:** Impacting daily life, work, and safety
Around 5:30 in the morning on December 31, Yvonne Santiago woke up abruptly to the stillness in her home. The fans were off, indicating a power outage. She returned to sleep, thinking it was just a minor inconvenience. However, when she woke up again hours later, she discovered that the blackout was not limited to Bayamón, where she was spending the holidays with her boyfriend’s family, but had affected the entire island of Puerto Rico.
Surviving Daily Blackouts
Reading the news about the island-wide blackout, Santiago found herself laughing. She explained, “Ríe para no llorar — laugh to not cry.” Living in Puerto Rico for years has made her accustomed to unexpected events and power outages. The blackout forced her to take practical steps to secure food and essentials, as blackouts had become a norm in her daily life since Hurricane Maria ravaged the island seven years ago.
Impact of Privatization on Power Outages
The aftermath of Hurricane Maria saw essential public infrastructure, including the energy transmission and distribution system, privatized. Luma Energy, a consortium led by American-Canadian interests, took over the energy grid, leading to repeated price hikes and unreliable service. Santiago, like many others, faced not only blackouts but also unpredictable power surges that damaged her appliances and affected her work at the General Archives of Puerto Rico.
Historical Context and Ongoing Struggles
Delving into the archives, Santiago discovered a 1934 manifesto by Luis Muñoz Marín warning of exploitation by foreign investors during times of crisis. The echoes of the past reverberated with the present situation in Puerto Rico. Santiago linked the current challenges to colonialism, highlighting the control exerted by external interests like Luma Energy.
As the New Year’s blackout persisted, Governor Jenniffer González-Colón acknowledged the island’s dire energy situation. Despite efforts to address the grid’s issues, Puerto Ricans continue to face the threat of power failures in the coming year.
In the midst of uncertainty and ongoing challenges, Yvonne Santiago’s story sheds light on the resilience and adaptability of the people of Puerto Rico. As they navigate through another year of power outages, Santiago’s experience serves as a poignant reminder of the daily struggles faced by many on the island.