The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced an extension of emergency orders aimed at improving the electric grid in Puerto Rico. The original orders, issued in May 2025, have allowed the government of Puerto Rico to carry out essential repairs and maintenance to address long-standing reliability issues with the island’s power system. The extension will keep these measures in place through November 12, 2025, covering the peak summer demand and the most active part of hurricane season.
“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 also expressed support for the move: “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 suffered from decades of underinvestment, deferred maintenance, bankruptcy by its owner PREPA (Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority), as well as repeated damage from hurricanes and earthquakes. Full recovery is expected to take years.
The extended emergency orders direct PREPA to continue operating necessary generation units to maintain grid stability and performing vegetation management along key transmission lines—both considered important steps as hurricane season intensifies.
DOE says it will continue working with local leaders including Governor González-Colón to improve infrastructure resilience on the island.
On May 16, 2025, DOE first issued two emergency orders under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act authorizing PREPA to operate certain generation units for a limited period and perform vegetation control activities intended to reduce outages caused by overgrown plants.
