Additional Coverage:
- I moved to Puerto Rico for the entrepreneurial scene and I love it — except for the constant power outages (newsbreak.com)
Ryan Pamplin, a Puerto Rico resident for four years, loves the island’s community but is exasperated by its unreliable power grid. Outages are frequent and can last up to 24 hours, affecting businesses, residents, and food storage.
To cope, Pamplin relies on backup power stations and batteries. However, gas generators often break, polluting the air and posing health risks. Despite the hot climate, Pamplin must go without air conditioning during outages.
Tuesday’s massive blackout, which affected the entire island, has left Pamplin and millions of others without power. Water pressure is also extremely low due to malfunctioning pumps.
Despite the frustration, Pamplin says that the outage may inspire a lively New Year’s Eve celebration on the streets, with people enjoying the clear skies and fireworks without the distractions of technology.