The Privatization of Puerto Rico's Power Grid Is Mired in Controversy

Nearly three years after Hurricane Maria, the island's grid remains vulnerable and brittle

4 min read

A crane truck in an industrial area lifts a heavy piece of electrical equipment into place among short towers topped with insulators and busbars
People work on repairs at the Costa Sur power plant in Penuelas, Puerto Rico on January 9, 2020, after a powerful earthquake hit the island. The quake forced an automatic shutdown of the power grid, already severely damaged by Hurricane Maria more than two years ago.
Photo: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images