Director of Puerto Rico power company resigns as island continues struggle to regain electricity

A boy watches the repairs of Guajataca Dam, which cracked during Hurricane Maria, in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico. Experts said the island could face nearly two decades of further economic stagnation and a steep drop in population as a result of Maria.

By Associated Press

Nov. 17, 2017 10:05 AM PT

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Reporting from SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The director of Puerto Rico’s power company has resigned amid ongoing blackouts and scrutiny of a contract awarded to a small Montana-based company to help rebuild the electric grid destroyed by Hurricane Maria.

Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority said Ricardo Ramos presented his letter of resignation to the company’s board effective Friday. Officials said Ramos would provide additional information soon.

Ramos testified before a U.S. Senate committee this week about a $300-million contract awarded to Whitefish Energy Holdings that since has been canceled. The contract is undergoing a local and federal audit.

More than 20 of Puerto Rico’s 78 municipalities remain without power nearly two months after Maria hit the U.S. territory as a Category 4 hurricane.