Nearly 7 weeks after hurricane, more than 50% of Puerto Rico power generation offline [updated]

US Army's 249th Power Division works on a distribution line in the northeast part of Puerto Rico, Oct. 30. (Photo by Jeff Miller) (credit: Western Area Power)

Since Puerto Rico was struck by Hurricane Maria in late September, the island has struggled to repair power lines, water pumps, cell phone towers, roads, and bridges. The electrical system has come under the most scrutiny. The commonwealth's power provider-Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority or PREPA-was bankrupt going into the disaster and has faced scandal after scandal in recent weeks. After reconnecting more than 40 percent of its generating sources early last week, a major power line failed on Thursday, reducing the grid's online capacity to 18 percent. Although the line was quickly fixed, PREPA's grid is only working at 47 percent capacity now, according to statistics from the Puerto Rican government.

With more than 50 percent of the grid offline, previously connected Puerto Ricans have been living off generators or solar panels for nearly 7 weeks, or they live without power.

On Thursday, Governor Ricardo Rossello demanded that his entire cabinet submit undated letters of resignation to his office, according to The New York Times. Rossello said he hoped to cut cabinet members to form a more nimble government.

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