Puerto Rico’s Power Plays When the Lights Go Off and Rage Follows

Sat, 02 May 2026 00:22:21 +0000

Puerto Rico’s Power Plays: When the Lights Go Off and the Rage Follows When the storm strikes Puerto Rico, the island’s fragile energy infrastructure often buckles—leaving thousands in darkness. But behind the power outages lies a complex story of policy decisions, infrastructure neglect, and growing public frustration. This article explores Puerto Rico’s power crisis, the unfolding “power plays” during blackouts, and the rising anger shaping political and energy debates across the island. ### The Lights Go Out: A Persistent Crisis Puerto Rico’s power problems are not new, but recent years have seen dramatic blackouts that cripple daily life, cripple hospitals, and disrupt economic activity. Following years of mismanagement, aging grids, underinvestment, and the devastating impact of hurricanes like Hurricane Maria (2017), the island’s electricity system remains vulnerable.