After San Juan Mayor Miguel A. Romero Lugo signed an Executive Order declaring a state of emergency in San Juan, the municipal administration began response and support processes for residents and business owners affected by the instability in electrical service.
"We are currently facing an emergency due to the constant interruptions in electrical service.
This emergency has been very difficult for everyone, and that is why the Municipality of San Juan is doing everything within our reach to support the affected businesses and residents," Romero Lugo said.
Joined by Daphne Barbeito, director of the municipal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Romero Lugo explained that qualifying business owners would receive financial assistance of up to $5,000.
The financial assistance for this sector is intended to support business owners who have suffered losses since May 7, 2024, directly caused by lack of electrical service.
According to Romero Lugo, the assistance can go toward replacing raw materials lost during prolonged outages, such as uncooked food in the case of restaurants or similar businesses, replacing damaged equipment, and covering diesel expenses to keep operations running.
How do I apply for financial assistance?
Business owners who wish to apply for financial assistance of up to $5,000 must submit the Asistencia Ante Emergencia Eléctrica para Comerciantes de San Juan application digitally.
The application is available on the municipality's portal, under Departamento para el Desarrollo Económico y Turismo – Emprendimiento Capital, or at the following link: Concierge Empresarial – Municipio de San Juan.
Applications can also be submitted in person at the Municipio de San Juan's "Concierge Empresarial," located on the first level of centro comercial Plaza Las Américas, which operates Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The San Juan mayor urged business owners with questions about the financial assistance initiative to visit the Municipio de San Juan's "Concierge Empresarial" at Plaza Las Américas or to write to: conciergeempresarial@sanjuan.pr.
How do I know if I am eligible?
To be eligible, a business must meet the established requirements, which include not having a gross annual sales volume exceeding $3 million, having no debt with the municipality or having an approved payment plan that is current, and submitting proof of purchase within a maximum of 30 calendar days after the assistance is issued, or quotes for equipment purchases.
Applicants must also provide a description and the date on which the damages occurred, and indicate whether the assistance requested is for: replacement or cleaning of equipment, fixtures, or other machinery; replacement of perishable inventory; generator fuel costs; a contribution toward the purchase of a generator; or other needs.
The business owner must authorize the Municipio de San Juan to conduct inspections if necessary for evaluation purposes.
Assistance for residents
Separately, the municipal administration approved grants of up to $1,500 for San Juan residents affected by the outages.
The financial assistance for families and residents is intended to help them replace essential damaged equipment, such as: a refrigerator, stove, microwave, washing machine, or other household appliance that is essential for medical reasons.
If eligible, the amount of financial assistance will be subject to evaluation and the availability of funds.
To receive the Asistencia por Emergencia en el Sistema Eléctrico para Residentes de San Juan, the household's gross annual income must not exceed $50,000.
To apply for financial assistance, affected residents should call the Oficina de Servicios Al Ciudadano of the Municipality of San Juan between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., at 787-480-2600 or 787-480-2524.
Once the affected person or family calls, they are given an appointment to visit the Oficina de Servicios Al Ciudadano and receive help with the application process.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
