Judge seeks Puerto Rico power company debt restructuring

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday ordered a fresh round of mediation talks aimed at restructuring more than $8 billion in debt held by Puerto Rico’s power company as it struggles to recover from Hurricane Fiona.

In addition, U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain allowed a federal control board that oversees the island’s finances to go to court to determine how much money bondholders should receive as they seek to recover their investments.

The board warned earlier that any expenses linked to debt repayment would be passed along to the power company’s 1.47 million clients.

The board also was ordered to file a debt-restructuring plan for the island’s Electric Power Authority by Dec. 1, with a confirmation hearing scheduled for mid-2023.

A spokeswoman for the board said it did not have immediate comment.

The rulings come as more than 311,000 customers remain without power more than 10 days after Fiona slammed into Puerto Rico’s southwest tip as a Category 1 storm, sparking an island-wide blackout. Several hospitals also remain connected to generators.

“It is totally unacceptable,” said Manuel Calderón Cerame, spokesman for the main opposition Popular Democratic Party.

Fuel disruptions have forced grocery stores, gas stations and other businesses to temporarily close as the demand for diesel to feed generators grows. Hundreds of schools also remain shuttered.

Government officials have vowed to try and restore power to 91% of clients by Friday as they push to restructure the power company’s debt.

In early March, Pierluisi had announced that his administration was scrapping a proposed debt restructuring deal because it was not favorable to the island’s economy or the power company’s clients.

Then on Sept. 16, officials announced that mediation talks had failed. In response, a bondholder group that holds or insures 65% of the power company’s debt sought to have the bankruptcy case dismissed and a receiver appointed.

On Wednesday, the judge denied their request.

A spokesman for the bondholder group did not immediately return a message for comment.

The power company holds the largest debt of any of Puerto Rico’s government agencies, and it is one of two agencies whose debt has not yet been restructured more than five years after the U.S. territory filed for the largest municipal bankruptcy in history.

Puerto Rico’s Highways and Transportation Authority still holds $5.8 billion in debt.

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