Tonight, a power crisis in Puerto Rico remains unsolved. More than six years after Hurricane Maria wrecked havoc on the decaying infrastructure, locals say blackouts are still a constant problem.

Things have continued to get very, very bad. Hospitals have had power outages, extended power outages. Most people absolutely cannot afford even generators and much less rooftop solar.

Luma Energy, the island's privately owned power company, announcing this week they are suspending $65 million worth of maintenance projects due to what they say are budget constraints. Some of those projects meant to upkeep more than 100,000 light posts, repair underground circuits, and mitigate fires. The move increasing long-standing tensions between locals and the energy company. And coming just weeks after a massive blackout, left over 340,000 people without power amid record-breaking heat. Luma Energy, telling the Associated Press, The company blames the suspension on a delay in funds disbursement from the federal emergency management agency.

Luma is incentivized to do the work that involves reimbursement from FEMA, but has no incentive to use its own budget to do regular maintenance and repair, opting not to do the regular maintenance and repair that the grid needs.

Luma Energy did not respond to MBC's request for comment. Top Story traveled to Puerto Rico in 2022 and spoke to the then CEO of Luma Energy, who said Hurricane Maria ravaged an already delicate power grid.

It took decades for it to end up in the state it's in, and it's going to take us a few years to get it back to a system that is what we might expect in other parts of the world.

Tonight, an island waiting for reliable power and hope to be fully restored.

Guard Vanegas joins us tonight from Atlanta. So, Guard, we're just at the start of hurricane season, and As you mentioned, there was already a nine-day blackout on the island. As these investigations and suits get underway, do officials have the resources to handle yet another major blackout?

Well, Tom, the governor, Pedro Piero Luis, he has activated the National Guard to help with that energy crisis, but they can only do so much and help those in the most need. There are pragmatic solutions like using generators and also solar panels in homes. But according to the expert we spoke to, solar panels can cost $25,000 to $30,000. And if somebody wants a generator, that'll cost $1,500 to $5,000. Many in Puerto Rico can't afford that. The only real solution here is to invest in that infrastructure, which we've known for years, but as we've seen, Tom, has been quite challenging.

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