Puerto Rico has not paid a dime on what it owes despite extending Whitefish's time on the island after "terminating" their contract. This is why PREPA cannot get other companies to take the place of Whitefish - the utility is bankrupt and will not pay. Whitefish Energy is ‘standing down’ in Puerto Rico over non-payment of $83 Million https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/p...-down-puerto-rico-over-non-payment-83-n822756
I guess Puerto Rico doesn’t really want power. Why don’t you go down there and work as a lineman for free - demonstrate how charitable and helpful you are.
So there is no fine line between the extremes of getting conned by some shady company vs working for free?
So I take it that many larger more reputable companies will be stepping up to work in Puerto Rico for what PREPA is paying? Oh wait, all of them refused to... even other electric utilities they have assistance agreements with refuse to send anyone.
Other companies are already working since FEMA is going to pay them, not paying corrupt companies who overcharged you doesn't mean other companies are at risk.
THERE ARE NO OTHER COMPANIES PROVIDING LINEMEN IN PUERTO RICO. Cobra (owned by Mammoth) has quit. The army engineering unit is being pulled out in December. The Whitefish contract was quietly extended rather than being terminated when PREPA and FEMA could find no other company willing to send linemen to Puerto Rico.
There is work going on "While it is now utilizing mutual assistance agreements to assist with recovery, this week Whitefish Energy announced they would be stopping work on the remainder of projects it was involved with." https://www.utilitydive.com/news/wh...ion-work-in-puerto-rico-over-83m-bill/511443/ And a reminder why WhiteFish got booted "The company billed $319/hour for linemen services, but paid them between $42/hour and $100/hour."