The People Who Live Well in Puerto Rico don't Rely on the Grid
They design around it. They plan for it. They take control of their own energy. And once you do that, the “power grid problem” becomes background noise—like complaining about traffic in LA or snow in Chicago. It’s real, but it isn’t life-defining.
If you’re considering relocating, investing, or spending meaningful time here, don’t ask, “Is the grid good?”
Ask: “Why should it matter to me?”
Here’s the honest answer.
The Reality of the Grid
- The average electric-service customer in Puerto Rico now experiences about 27 hours of power interruptions per year, even excluding major events like hurricanes. On the U.S. mainland, by contrast, average interruptions are about 2 hours per year in non-event years.
- In 2022, when Hurricane Fiona struck, every one of the 1.5 million electricity customers on the island lost power at one point—and some parts of the archipelago were dark for up to four weeks.
- Despite major grid-reconstruction efforts, the island still relies on an aging transmission and distribution system. According to one study, nearly 1.1 million residential buildings remain technically suitable for solar—but the grid’s reliability remains in question.
- The flip side? The island is already out-pacing many peers in solar adoption. Distributed generation has grown so rapidly that rooftop solar now accounts for a significant portion of residential and commercial systems: one source cites rooftop solar providing about 10% of total electricity in Puerto Rico.
- More than 117,000 homes and businesses had enrolled in net-metering by early 2024, adding over 810 MW of capacity.
- When the power goes out, business carries on. Gas stations, grocery stores, professional offices and others have backup generators - losing power doesn't mean losing revenue for them, and it won't impact access to services (essential or otherwise for you).
Why That Shouldn't Matter to You
Let’s connect the dots for someone looking at lifestyle, relocation, investment and living well:
- You don’t have to wait for the grid to get better.
The grid’s improvement is uncertain, slow, and subject to weather, bureaucracy and politics. But you can design your own system today. In other words: don’t let “the grid isn’t fixed yet” become your excuse to stay outside Puerto Rico or settle for second-class living.
- You can own your energy.
Modern solar + battery + generator combos turn the question from “Will the lights stay on?” to “Do I want to be independent?” If you’ve got solar and storage sized to your major loads, grid outages don’t interrupt your routine. They become trivia.
• Thanks to growing installations (≈ 3,000 systems per month in recent years) the island’s energy-resilient homeowners are building real lifestyle freedom. • When your freezer stays cold, your WiFi stays live, your AC continues, your pool pump runs, and your lights don’t flicker—then you’re not “living in Puerto Rico with a problem.” You’re living in Puerto Rico with a plan.
- Your lifestyle becomes more proactive than reactive.
You stop living in the fear of “when the next blackout” and you move into designing around “what I’m going to do while everyone else reacts.” That means your time, your freedom, your choices shift.
• You stay cool while the grid rebuilds.
• You carry on in a system where many others are still playing defense.
What That Means for the Investor-Owner
- Angle your property-upgrade budget toward solar + battery systems from day one. Treat it like a fixture, not an optional “nice to have.” If you're spending $1M or more to live here, why let a $30k "resilience budget" get in the way?
- Understand the mindset: living in Puerto Rico doesn’t mean giving up standards — it means redefining them on your schedule.
- If your buying property for investment, use resilience as a key feature to increase ADR and occupancy throughout the year.
The Truth
The grid is not a reason to avoid Puerto Rico.
It’s a reason to adopt the mindset of people who thrive here: Own your energy. Own your experience. Own your life.
Once you understand that, the power grid isn’t a barrier, it’s just another reason Puerto Rico is a place for people who choose to live intentionally.
Now of course we want EVERYONE to have reliable, inexpensive energy, but there are great options in the meanwhile.
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Shawn L. Hanson, Managing Partner
shanson@pr-proz.com
(608) 385-5377
Disclaimer
This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice. The authors have made reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein as of the date of publication; however, laws, regulations, and guidance may change, and no guarantee is made as to the completeness or accuracy of the content.
Readers should not rely solely on this material for making investment or tax decisions. All investors are strongly encouraged to consult with qualified tax, legal, and financial professionals before acting on any information contained in this document.
Nothing herein constitutes an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security or investment product.