LUMA Energy says a proposed quarterly rate adjustment could add roughly $48 to the average residential electric bill starting in October, pending approval from Puerto Rico’s energy regulator.
The company said Sept. 16 that rising fuel and purchased-power costs — driven in part by the island’s recent generation shortfalls — could require a 6.07-cent-per-kilowatt-hour increase for the fourth quarter of the year. LUMA said the adjustment reflects a standard quarterly reconciliation of actual costs, not a permanent increase to the base electric rate.
The proposal must be reviewed and approved by the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau before it can take effect. The bureau has approved past LUMA rate requests at lower amounts than the company originally sought.
Tied to generation problems
The filing comes amid a stretch of serious generation shortfalls, including load-shedding events at Costa Sur, Aguirre and San Juan power plant units in recent days that forced Puerto Rico’s grid operator to cut power to tens of thousands of customers.
Related coverage: Generation Deficit Triggers New Load Shedding as Two More Units Fail
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Sources: LUMA Energy
