The Associated General Contractors of America, Puerto Rico Chapter (AGC-PR), used its June luncheon and construction panel in Rincón to deliver a pointed message: Puerto Rico’s economic future depends on accelerating the use of federal reconstruction funds that have remained largely untapped nearly a decade after Hurricane María. AGC-PR President Ismael Sánchez noted that only […]
The Associated General Contractors of America, Puerto Rico Chapter (AGC-PR), used its June luncheon and construction panel in Rincón to deliver a pointed message: Puerto Rico’s economic future depends on accelerating the use of federal reconstruction funds that have remained largely untapped nearly a decade after Hurricane María.
AGC-PR President Ismael Sánchez noted that only 30 percent of the FEMA funds allocated to Puerto Rico have been used to date, despite the billions approved by Congress for rebuilding and modernizing the island’s infrastructure. He stressed that the pace of investment must increase to sustain the island’s economic projections and long-term development. Sánchez highlighted the organization’s nine years of advocacy for free-market conditions, more agile permitting processes, and improved business environments, and pointed to AGC-PR’s workforce development initiatives, including registered apprenticeship programs and engineering scholarships.
The association reaffirmed its support for key government appointments tied to reconstruction efforts. Sánchez praised the confirmation of Carlos J. Ríos Pierluisi as Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce and urged the Legislature to promptly confirm María Marín as director of COR3, citing her familiarity with federal processes and the urgency of ongoing infrastructure work. He emphasized that Puerto Rico’s reconstruction is being carried out by local talent and expertise, underscoring the industry’s commitment to integrity, capacity and responsibility.
During the activity, LUMA presented a detailed overview of the state of the electrical system in the western region, outlining both the progress achieved and the structural challenges that continue to shape the pace of modernization. The company framed its work within the constraints it inherited, including the unresolved PREPA bankruptcy, the continued use of 2017-era tariffs, and limited access to critical FEMA funds at the start of operations. LUMA noted that when it assumed control of the system, no FEMA reconstruction projects were in construction and only 37 had been initiated afterward, a reality that continues to influence the rhythm of improvements.
Despite these limitations, LUMA described steady progress across the region. In substations, the company has carried out maintenance and modernization work in more than a dozen facilities, including critical sites in Aguadilla, Mayagüez, San Germán and Isabela. New transformers have been energized in Aguada and Añasco, and the Mora TC Bank 1 transformer in Isabela entered service on June 24. LUMA reported that more than 60 transmission and distribution breakers are now in service, strengthening reliability in commercial and densely populated areas.
Transmission work has focused on rebuilding high-voltage lines, installing optical sensors to detect faults, and replacing switches and hardware across municipalities such as Aguada, Cabo Rojo, Moca and San Sebastián. These upgrades reinforce the corridors connecting major generation plants to the western region, reducing the risk of outages and improving emergency response capacity.
In the distribution system, LUMA has replaced more than 32,000 luminaires, installed more than 6,400 poles, and deployed more than 3,700 automation devices. Reconstruction work is underway in nearly every municipality in the region, from Aguadilla and Añasco to Maricao and Rincón, with the goal of reducing interruptions and strengthening service continuity for homes, businesses and industrial operations.
Vegetation management, a key factor in preventing outages, has also advanced. LUMA reported that 96.6 miles of lines have been cleared in the region, improving 32 feeders and fully clearing 15. FEMA recently obligated an additional 663 miles of vegetation work across the island, and some of those projects have already begun. The company also completed cyclical maintenance on the 230 kV Line 50400, one of the main transmission lines serving Mayagüez.
With hurricane season underway, LUMA emphasized improvements in emergency preparedness and inventory availability. The company now has more than 15,000 distribution poles, 9,500 transmission structures, 14 million feet of wire, and thousands of transformers and breakers on hand, representing a significant improvement over last year’s inventory level.
For contractors and industry leaders gathered in Rincón, the combined message from AGC-PR and LUMA underscored both urgency and opportunity. AGC-PR’s call to accelerate federal investment aligns with LUMA’s depiction of a system still constrained by legacy issues but steadily improving through targeted upgrades. Both organizations stressed that the western region—home to major commercial hubs and growing population centers—stands to benefit significantly from faster project execution and sustained infrastructure investment.
