October 9, 2025 — Cataño, Puerto Rico — Governor Jenniffer González-Colón announced today that Unit 4 of the Palo Seco Power Plant is now back in operation, adding 216 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity to Puerto Rico’s electric system. This additional capacity will strengthen voltage control across the northern region of the Island and improve the quality of electricity for consumers.
“After more than two years out of service, we are proud to announce the return to operations of Unit 4 of the Palo Seco Power Plant, an essential component for the reliability of our power system, particularly in the San Juan metropolitan area. The repair of Unit 4, made possible through a $20 million investment in federal funds that we secured while serving in Congress, restores 216 megawatts of power to our system,” stated Governor González-Colón.
The Governor highlighted that the successful restoration of Unit 4 was achieved thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and to the leadership of President Trump and his American Energy Dominance policies. She expressed her appreciation for the continued collaboration of DOE Secretary Chris Wright and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristie Noem, emphasizing that, “Through these partnerships, we are making steady progress in rebuilding Puerto Rico’s energy infrastructure and securing a stronger future for our Island.”
“One of my top priorities is to guarantee our people a safe, stable, and affordable energy system. As a Member of Congress, I worked to secure federal funding for power plant repairs and improvements. Now, as Governor, my goal is to accelerate these projects to strengthen our reliability and generation capacity. Together with the Energy Czar, we are ensuring that these works are completed efficiently and on schedule,” the Governor added.
Repair and Restoration Work:
Unit 4 of the Palo Seco Power Plant had been offline since August 8, 2023, due to a major generator failure caused by a short circuit in the stator windings that led to a fire.
The unit plays a critical role in voltage control, particularly for the San Juan metropolitan area. After extensive repairs and multiple operational tests, Unit 4 has returned to service with a capacity of 216 MW. As a safety measure, it is currently operating at a limited capacity of approximately 150 MW while testing continues. Once these tests are completed, the unit will reach its full capacity of 216 MW.
The project required an investment of approximately $20 million in federal fund, including $15 million from DOE and $5.7 million from FEMA.
The scope of work included:
rotor removal and reinstallation, manufacturing and installation of new coils, replacement of the turning gear system, materials and installation of a superheater header, installation of monitoring cameras, and other improvements.
Generation Capacity at Palo Seco and Across Puerto Rico:
Of the over 600 MW installed at the Palo Seco Power Plant, only about 220 MW had been available. The addition of 216 MW from Unit 4 doubles the available capacity at the facility. Systemwide, this brings Puerto Rico’s total available generation capacity from approximately 3,500 MW to 3,600 MW, achieved through the restoration projects completed between January and July of this year.
Last year, LUMA warned of possible power outages lasting up to 36 days. In response, Governor González Colón created an Energy Committee in December 2024, which developed legislation this year to increase the Island’s generation capacity.
• In May, the Costa Sur Power Plant was repaired, adding 410 MW to the system.
• Between June and August, the Aguirre 2 Power Plant was restored, contributing 350 MW.
• In August, three combined-cycle units at Aguirre were reactivated, adding 150 MW.
• That same month, Unit 6 of the San Juan Power Plant returned to service, adding 150 MW.
• And today, after more than two years, Unit 4 of the Palo Seco Power Plant is once again operational, contributing an initial 150 MW during its testing phase.
