LUMA's $180 million underground transmission overhaul receives Puerto Rico’s approval

(UI) — The Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) has granted LUMA Energy's proposal to invest $180 million to increase the resilience of underground transmission lines, the San Juan Daily Star reported.

According to LUMA, the planned project intends to repair and harden important underground transmission system components whose prospective breakdowns might jeopardize the system's dependability and resilience.

In order to enable better performance, to assist efficient black-start operations, and to strengthen the system's ability to incorporate renewable production, the project aims to repair damaged equipment and implement advanced sensors, control capabilities, and communications systems.

The project's proposed methodology will consist of four stages, and its completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2028.

An evaluation of the underground transmission lines and training of the project staff would make up the first phase (9–12 months). Second, it will take two to three years to restore the two important transmission lines. The third step is the setup of sensors and monitoring tools, and the fourth step is the analysis of the data.

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) was required by the PREB to provide specific information about the various projects included in the PREPA 10-Year Infrastructure Plan's Transmission Line Projects, Transmission Substation Projects, and Distribution Substation Projects categories in 2021.

A list of the projects that would receive funding from the government Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or any other government monies was also requested.

On June 28, LUMA filed a document titled "Informative Motion," along with another document titled "Funding Opportunities," which includes a brief summary of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and a LUMA proposal with a description of the project titled "Underground Transmission Hardening for Enhanced Resilience." LUMA submitted a new motion in July in response to several requests.

This story was originally published by the San Juan Daily Star.

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