1. Luma is conducting island-wide smart meter and vegetation clearing assessments to modernize Puerto Rico’s energy infrastructure.
2. The deployment of 1.5 million smart meters is seen as a significant step towards enhancing reliability, efficiency, and customer experience.
3. The vegetation clearing assessment, aimed at reducing service interruptions caused by vegetation growth near power lines, is federally funded and part of Luma’s commitment to improving the electrical grid.
Luma, the utility company in Puerto Rico, has started an island-wide assessment for the deployment of 1.5 million smart meters, a move that is expected to enhance the reliability, efficiency, and customer experience of the electrical grid on the island. The smart meters will enable real-time monitoring, improved outage detection, and enhanced energy management capabilities.
Initial assessments are being conducted to evaluate the infrastructure readiness and determine the best strategies for the installation of smart meters. Factors such as infrastructure compatibility, meter locations, and customer accessibility are being considered.
In addition to the smart meter assessment, Luma is also conducting a vegetation clearing assessment, both of which are federally funded projects aimed at modernizing Puerto Rico’s energy infrastructure. Vegetation growth near power lines is a major cause of service interruptions and a threat to the grid’s reliability, especially during adverse weather conditions.
Luma’s President and CEO, Juan Saca, stated that the goal is to provide reliable and sustainable energy solutions to the people of Puerto Rico, with smart meters being a crucial step in achieving this goal. The vegetation clearing assessment is focused on identifying and protecting endemic trees and wildlife, with plans for vegetation clearance in selected areas across the island.
The programme also includes the replacement of over 100,000 streetlights in more than 50 municipalities, with plans to cover all 78 municipalities in the first phase. Later phases will involve more complex repairs and improvements to the electrical infrastructure.