After months of struggle to restore power in Puerto Rico, the territory’s Gov. Ricardo Rosselló on Jan. 22 announced that the state-owned Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority will be privatized.
“The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority [PREPA] has become a heavy burden on our people, who are now hostage to its poor service and high cost,” Rosselló said in a statement. “What we know today is the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority does not work and cannot continue to operate like this.” Rosselló was expected to present a privatization plan to the territory’s Legislature as early as Jan. 24. The sell-off process could take as long as 18 months.