Puerto Rico in Distress

ABI Analysis

Canceling the landmark contract that put Puerto Rico’s electric grid under private management is “not on the table,” despite calls to revoke the deal by Nov. 30, Fermin Fontanes, the head of the island’s public-private partnerships agency, told WKAQ 580 radio Thursday, Bloomberg News reported.

Puerto Rico’s financial oversight board says it’s still at odds with creditors of the island’s bankrupt power company over how much businesses and residents can afford to pay for electricity, Bloomberg News reported. An “impasse” over energy tariffs is responsible for a recent collapse in negotiations to restructure Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s $9 billion in debt, said Prof.

A federal judge on Wednesday approved a plan to restructure some $6 billion of debt held by Puerto Rico’s Highways and Transportation Authority as the U.S. territory emerges from bankruptcy, the Associated Press reported. The plan cuts the agency's debt by more than 80% and saves Puerto Rico more than $3 billion in debt service payments, according to Gov.

McKinsey & Co., the consulting powerhouse that advises not just Puerto Rico’s government but also the primary contractors and vendors for the island territory’s energy system, is facing scrutiny in the wake of the power grid’s continued dysfunction, WSJ Pro Bankruptcy reported.

Other Resources

The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico was created under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act of 2016. The Board consists of seven members appointed by the President of the United States and one ex officio member designated by the Governor of Puerto Rico. Access information on the Board, documents, videos of meetings, calendar of events and live webcasts by clicking here.