The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced an extension of emergency orders aimed at strengthening Puerto Rico’s electric grid. These orders, first issued in May, have allowed the government of Puerto Rico to make repairs and improvements to its fragile power system. The extension will allow this work to continue during the summer, when electricity demand is typically highest.
“A reliable and secure power grid is essential for modern life, and the residents of Puerto Rico deserve solutions now. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are able to take action, moving from years of instability toward measurable, lasting progress,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “By extending these orders, DOE is ensuring critical work continues, urgent energy reliability needs are addressed, and the grid is more prepared to withstand the most demanding stretch of hurricane season for the 3.2 million Americans who call Puerto Rico home.”
Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón expressed support for the decision: “I thank Secretary Wright and strongly support the Department of Energy’s extension of the 202(c) emergency orders for Puerto Rico, which have provided needed flexibilities to maintain sufficient power generation capacity and conduct vegetation control activities along critical transmission lines. The Trump Administration’s close collaboration and commitment to stabilize and rebuild our power grid has been unprecedented and is already yielding results,” she said. “I look forward to building on this momentum and continue partnering with President Trump and Secretary Wright as we strengthen Puerto Rico’s electrical system and ensure an affordable, reliable, and secure supply of energy for the island’s 3.2 million Americans.”
Puerto Rico’s electric grid has faced decades of underinvestment, bankruptcy by its owner PREPA (Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority), as well as damage from hurricanes and earthquakes. Full recovery will require years but ongoing efforts are focused on improving reliability.
As part of hurricane season preparations—when storms tend to be most severe—the DOE is extending two emergency orders originally issued under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act on May 16, 2025. One order allows PREPA to keep using certain generation units needed for maintaining reliability; another directs continued vegetation management along key transmission lines in order to reduce outages caused by falling trees or branches. These extensions will remain in effect from August 15 through November 12.
The DOE says it will keep working with local officials including Governor González-Colón as well as other stakeholders in addressing ongoing challenges related to Puerto Rico's electric infrastructure.
On May 16th this year, DOE first authorized PREPA through emergency measures both to operate specific generation units during a defined period and perform vegetation control aimed at keeping transmission lines operational while reducing faults caused by overgrowth.
