**Governor Advances Temporary Sales Tax Exemption and New Relief Measures Amid Rising Energy Costs**
La Fortaleza, San Juan, Puerto Rico – October 23, 2026 – Governor of Puerto Rico Jenniffer González-Colón announced today that she will submit to the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) a measure for its review and validation that would establish a temporary exemption from the Sales and Use Tax (IVU) on prepared food purchased at restaurants and food establishments during November and December, as a short-term measure to provide financial relief to families amid high energy costs driven by oil prices.
“I know what it means to receive an increasingly higher electricity bill. I know what it represents for our seniors, our workers, mothers and fathers, and our small and midsize business owners. Behind every increase is a family that has to adjust its budget. There is a business owner struggling to keep their doors open. Some people have to choose between meeting their essential needs and paying a bill that seems to have no limit,” said Governor González-Colón.
For this reason, the Governor introduced administration bills, House Bill 1377 and Senate Bill 1405, which seek to establish the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program in Puerto Rico. The mechanism would facilitate financing for commercial businesses to install solar energy systems, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging stations.
The proposal seeks to expand access to energy and storage alternatives through financing that requires no upfront investment and does not commit government funds. This would make it easier for businesses to invest in solutions that meet their energy needs while strengthening operational continuity.
In addition, the Governor announced that the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) has identified $3 million for an energy assistance initiative that will benefit 1,000 small and midsize businesses, as part of DDEC’s efforts to address high electricity costs and promote energy efficiency in homes and businesses.
“High electricity costs affect the finances of our people and the ability of our small and midsize businesses to maintain their operations. That is why we are identifying resources to provide support and help them reduce their energy consumption. Today, we are announcing an additional $3 million for an initiative that will benefit 1,000 small and midsize businesses,” said Governor González-Colón.
For households, the Governor highlighted that DDEC has identified $18 million for the Home Weatherization Program, through which appliances are replaced with more energy-efficient equipment to improve energy efficiency in participating households.
To date, the program has benefited 359 households. In addition, 8,000 applications have been received, of which 5,000 have already been approved.
“We want this assistance to translate into tangible benefits for families and businesses. Replacing appliances with more energy-efficient equipment helps improve energy efficiency in homes. In contrast, support for small and midsize businesses helps address one of the costs they face in operating their businesses,” said Governor González-Colón.
As an additional measure, DDEC will provide its tenants in Guaynabo, Ponce, and Mayagüez with a credit to offset the increase in electricity costs for September and October.
“Together with my team, we will continue identifying alternatives that ease the economic burden on our people and support those who create jobs and economic activity on the Island,” concluded Governor González-Colón.
The Governor also announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $6,338,082 to Puerto Rico as part of a new federal investment to modernize energy infrastructure, strengthen the reliability of the electric grid, and help reduce electricity costs. The allocation is part of DOE’s nationwide announcement through the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant program, which provides funding to states, territories, and tribes to make improvements to critical energy infrastructure, prevent service disruptions, improve grid performance, and address growing electricity demand.
“This new federal allocation represents another important step toward continuing to strengthen Puerto Rico’s energy infrastructure and ensuring a more reliable electric grid for our families and businesses. I thank President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright for continuing to advance investments that address the real needs of our communities and strengthen the energy security of our Island,” said Governor González-Colón.
The Governor emphasized that these resources build on her administration’s efforts to maximize available federal funding and continue transforming Puerto Rico’s critical infrastructure. The DOE initiative is part of the Trump Administration’s energy agenda to strengthen the nation’s electric grid, address growing demand, and promote a more reliable and efficient energy system.
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