Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner demands release of $1.7 billion for power grid

Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera has formally requested that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) accelerate the release of approximately $1.7 billion in federal funds intended for Puerto Rico’s electrical grid recovery and modernization.

In a letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner, Hernández Rivera cited a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealing that 74% of funds obligated for these projects since 2017 remain undistributed. The GAO identified several causes for the delay, including staffing turnover, hiring freezes, complex financing, and uncertainty regarding the entities responsible for reconstruction. These bottlenecks have reportedly stalled roughly 50 power generation projects.

The request comes amid a persistent energy crisis on the island. Data indicates Puerto Rico experienced a 33% energy deficit in 2025. Furthermore, annual power outages for the average consumer rose significantly from an average of 27 hours between 2021 and 2024 to more than 73 hours in 2024 alone. Hernández Rivera has asked HUD to provide a specific timeline for fund distribution and to explain how it will protect these obligated funds from potential rescission or reallocation.