In recent years, the persistent instability of Puerto Rico’s electrical system and the lack of reliable access to power sources have affected the daily lives of thousands of Puerto Ricans, as well as the sense of security in many communities across the island. Currently, Puerto Rico faces a chronic crisis of frequent and prolonged blackouts caused by an aging electrical grid, insufficient investment, financial difficulties, and extreme weather conditions. Puerto Rico’s electrical system comprises four key stages: generation, substations, transmission, and distribution. Electricity is produced at large power plants and distributed throughout the archipelago. It is important to note that the island is connected to a single electrical grid; consequently, an incident in one part of the country tends to affect the entire island. Each stage of the electrical system plays a vital role in the distribution of this resource. The generation stage involves power plants that produce energy using fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, and diesel. Next, at the substation stage, the voltage is adjusted for the transmission lines; in the subsequent stage, high-voltage cables carry this energy over long distances across the island. Notably, these transmission lines often traverse mountainous terrain, complicating repair efforts. Finally, the energy reaches the distribution lines, which deliver electricity to our homes.1 It is also important to highlight that much of the transmission network and its current infrastructure dates back to the mid-20th century, meaning the system has aged over decades of prolonged use without the repairs needed for modernization and upgrades. Since the early 21st century, Puerto Rico has faced a crisis regarding its electrical system, driven by a lack of proper maintenance, negligence, political influence, and the massive debts of the Electric Power Authority (AEE), which had already established a pattern of electrical instability.2 However, the island's electrical situation did not deteriorate critically until September 20, 2017, when Hurricane Maria caused the total collapse of Puerto Rico's power grid. The passage of this Category 5 hurricane left the island and its 3.4 million inhabitants in the dark for 181 days, 6 hours, and 45 minutes.3 This outage became one of the longest in United States history, leaving residents across the island without electricity for nearly a year.4 In the wake of Hurricane Maria, the Puerto Rican government contracted Luma Energy, a private American-Canadian company, to address the persistent devastation of the island's power infrastructure.5  Despite this, Puerto Rico's electrical situation continued to decline after the company's arrival, as constant blackouts continue to affect residents, businesses, hospitals, schools, and communities. The contract awarded to that company by the then-Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, contains no penalty clauses for non-compliance on LUMA’s part.6 Consequently, nearly a decade after Maria, the island still lacks a stable system that would allow residents to live safely. The population is frequently forced to throw away spoiled food, as constant power outages tend to damage household appliances and the food stored within them. Furthermore, many people are unable to use necessary medical equipment or cool their homes during the alarming heatwaves affecting the island. Enid Nuñez, a 49-year-old Puerto Rico resident, noted that power outages are a daily occurrence and that she relies on a gas stove to prepare meals before work. Similarly, Raul Pacheco, a Puerto Rican resident and diabetic patient with physical difficulties affecting his right foot, commented that he planned to sleep on his home's balcony due to the blackouts.5 Statistics show that the average duration of blackouts on the island between April 2023 and March 2024 was 24 hours, whereas the average recorded for the United States was nearly 6 hours. Likewise, a 19% increase in power grid interruptions was recorded on the island over the course of the year. Additionally, for the 2024–2025 period, the company was granted a $693 million budget earmarked for the repair and maintenance of the electrical distribution system.6 Despite this, in April 2025, the company stated there was a real possibility that power outages would triple during the summer; this prompted the Governor of Puerto Rico to issue an executive order on April 22, 2025, declaring a state of emergency regarding the island's electrical system.7  To make matters worse, on July 30, 2026, an increase of 1.34 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) was approved for the July–September quarterly billing period; for the average customer, this will mean an additional $10.75 on their monthly bill.8  The persistent problems facing the country demonstrate that the crisis stems not merely from past disasters but is an ongoing issue threatening the present and future of the Puerto Rican people. Despite the millions of dollars in funding received to repair the system, residents continue to face the same old problems and are forced to pay increasingly higher rates for unreliable service. Camille Barreto voices the frustration felt by every Puerto Rican, stating, "Luma has Puerto Rico in an energy stranglehold, and Puerto Ricans shouldn't have to put up with continued subpar service."5 This highlights that the crisis extends far beyond infrastructure; it directly impacts our quality of life and our ability to carry out daily activities. 

That is why I wanted my quilt to convey not only the reality we live as Puerto Ricans due to the island's electrical instability, but also the accompanying sense of disconnection and insecurity. My visual and creative choices were intentional, aimed at transforming the electrical grid from an ordinary object into something imbued with meaning for the audience to perceive and interpret. Each element of the quilt, the island, the power grid, the disconnected wire, the colors, among others, represents different facets of the reality experienced in Puerto Rico. The gray background represents the gloom and uncertainty that settle over our homes when the electricity goes out, while the single utility pole emphasizes the island’s sense of disconnection. The falling cable represents the absence of a stable energy system, and the small embroidered star signifies the metropolitan and tourist areas that are often prioritized over other municipalities. The statistic embroidered at the top was intentionally included to create an immediate impact and help the audience understand the severity and broader implications of Puerto Rico’s electrical crisis. I wanted the statistic to provide factual context while the visual elements communicate the emotional experience associated with that reality. Finally, I chose a darker shade of blue for the sea to remain faithful to the official Puerto Rican flag. While many Puerto Ricans identify more strongly with the lighter shade of blue often used in representations of the flag, I chose the darker blue as a symbol of the political relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States and how that relationship has influenced the island’s circumstances. Together, I hope these choices allow the quilt to communicate not only the physical instability of Puerto Rico’s electrical system, but also the broader feelings of isolation, insecurity, and disconnection that accompany it.

1. Hispanic Federation, “Sistema Eléctrico De Puerto Rico - Hispanic Federation”

2. Historia Borincana, “De La LUZ Al APAGÓN: Historia De La AEE Y El Sistema Eléctrico De Puerto Rico”

3. Puerto Rico Recuperación: Huracán María,” Puerto Rico Recuperación. “Recuperation Y Modernización De La Red Eléctrica De Puerto Rico”

4. Sherter, “What to Know About Luma Energy, the Company Involved in Puerto Rico’s Massive Blackout”

5. Declet-Barreto, “Seven Years After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico Still Cannot Rely on Its Electrical Service”

6. Escoto, “LUMA Energy Alerta Que Los Apagones Podrían Triplicarse En Verano,” Department of Energy, “Order No. 202-25-2”

7. Badillo, “Electricity More Expensive from July to September: Energy Bureau Approves 4.9% Increase”