Wayne Stensby, president of LUMA Energy, said today that the company will be able to take over the administration of the country’s electricity transmission system from June 1 and rejected the claims because the agreement with the government of Puerto Rico be amended.
In recent days, lawmakers from three political parties in the House of Representatives have tabled a resolution to postpone – at least until January 15, 2022– the implementation of the agreement between the energy consortium, the Authority for Public-Private Alliances (P3) and the Electricity Authority (AEE).
Stensby, during a roundtable discussion with members of the press, reiterated that the company will be ready to take over the administration of the country’s transmission and distribution system and ruled out the legislative proposal to postpone the execution of the contract. until next year.
“There is no logic in investing more time in studying or analyzing what could be or should be [el acuerdo]. The best scenario is to start making improvements to the electricity system as soon as possible and that is why we are focused on the date of June 1, “the executive said. Subway around the reasons for opposing the postponement of the entry into force of the contract. Stensby argued that the company has evidence and data that suggests they will be able to meet the scheduled June 1 date and take over the reins of the country’s electricity system.
He even considered unnecessary proposals to amend the agreement between the company and the Puerto Rican government such as allowing the EEA to oversee the implementation of the agreement and not P3. “LUMA’s position is that there is no need to amend the contract. That agreement was ratified by our Board, the P3, the EEA Board, the Fiscal Control Board and the governor of Puerto Rico. What is needed is to start with improvements to the electrical system, ”he said. Stensby called it a “distraction” to seek to amend the contract to award the EEA Board the task of overseeing the contract.
Similarly, he also mentioned that there will be no need to amend the agreement to change the clauses that leave the door open for the company to leave the island in the event of a ‘force majeure’ event such as a natural disaster. . “I want to make it clear that LUMA and the parent companies are not going anywhere … We will be here for 15 years,” said Stensby, who assured that the energy consortium has experience handling responses after the passage of a storm.
In turn, he commented that, at least for the next three years, the company does not envisage requesting an increase in the electricity tariff of consumers.
Thunder against public hearings in the House of Representatives
The president of the corporation also thundered against the request for documents from the representative Luis Raúl Torres -who is chairman of the Commission for Economic Development, Planning, Telecommunications and Public-Private Partnerships- as they were asked to produce numerous documents within 48 hours and with the intention of sowing doubts about the contractual process. “The request for documents was a clear attempt to cast a shadow and doubts on the recruitment process under P3 and on LUMA. I want to be clear and unequivocal: the process under P3 was rigorous and thorough. The contract is legal and it was fully ratified, “he said in his initial media statement. He added that this morning, at 9:00 am, they met the deadline and handed over all the information requested by the chamber commission.
Stensby has also criticized that last Sunday he was subjected to a marathon view in which he was not allowed to expose or answer questions.
“As part of a legislative investigation into the LUMA contract, I filed for about eight hours and was denied the opportunity to fully answer the questions. I was asked to provide details of my personal life and my family and other matters that have nothing to do with the contract, ”Stensby questioned.
In turn, he ruled out being willing to reveal his salary figure and the identity of the people who make up the LUMA Board. “We will not disclose the names or details of our Board members. Nor will I disclose my salary or similar matters,” he told media inquiries.
They receive more than 14,000 job applications
Stensby said today that the company has received about 13,000 job applications from people who do not currently work in the EEA. While he has indicated that another 1,300 applications come from EEA employees who have applied to continue working from home under the private company.
Faced with lawsuits from lawmakers that the agreement violates Act 120 over the benefits that EEA workers must receive in the event of a transfer, Stensby insisted that the company comply with that legislation and that employees of the EEA ‘AEE will receive equal or better pay.