Sen. Sánchez demands AAA execute Act 143 credits for lack of water

Sen. Héctor Joaquín Sánchez Álvarez, chair of the Commission on Transportation, Telecommunications, Public Services and Consumer Affairs, demanded that the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority complete and execute bill adjustments under Act 143-2018 — Fair, Reasonable and Transparent Billing of Essential Public Services in Emergency Situations — for customers hit by rationing and prolonged potable-water outages. The public hearing turned on Senate Resolutions 543 and 560, both of his authorship: 543 looks at compliance with that law; 560, at AAA protocols for emergencies, contamination and possible interference with critical facilities.

AAA said in testimony that about 37,000 customers would be eligible for adjustments. Sánchez called that figure “very low” against the impact in San Juan, Carolina, Canóvanas and Loíza, and insisted that customers in blocks one and two with a minimum charge of about $30 also have a right to credit if they received no service: “If you already paid the bill, you should receive a credit.” Customer Service already delivered the required report; the document is before chief executive Luis González Delgado and the interim board chair for final approval. González Delgado excused himself from appearing and was summoned again for September 15, in what the Commission marked as the last hearing on both matters.

The ten mayors of the Carolina District were convened to the hearing; Canóvanas Mayor Lornna Soto Villanueva appeared and said that since the emergency began the municipality has distributed more than 2.2 million gallons and handled more than 4,745 cases, and offered municipal staff for temporary work — including grate cleaning — while AAA recruits. Metro Region director José Rivera was given 15 days to inventory vacant posts, needed positions and available funds; AAA, five days for an Excel inventory of companies contracted for operational emergencies. On contamination in Loíza Valley, Sánchez flagged concern: no one present could confirm that the investigation ordered by the governor was underway.

Fuente: NotiCel. https://noticel.com/ultima-hora/20260904/senador-reclama-a-la-aaa-que-ejecute-los-creditos-a-los-abonados-por-falta-de-servicio/