El Tejar Association Proposes Temporary Meter for 4-Month Power Outage

The El Tejar neighborhood association in Puerto de la Cruz has suggested a way to get electricity back to its building at 3 Canastilleras Street. They want to install a temporary electricity meter. This idea came about because the local government (PP-ACP-CC) hasn't offered any real solutions, and the association needs to restart its community activities.

The electricity went out on September 26, 2025. The power company, e-distribución, found an illegal connection, which caused the outage. For over four months, the building has had no power. This has stopped after-school classes, rehearsals for the musical group Los Románticos Jubilados, and meetings for the domino club, among other things.

The association presented its idea last Thursday at a City Hall meeting with Mayor Leopoldo Afonso and Alonso Acevedo, the Councilor for Public Works and Services. Those representing the association were María Vanessa León Peraza (an after-school teacher), Francisco Pérez Padrón (president of the domino club), and Tino (a member of the musical group).

The association's representatives were unhappy with how the problem has been handled, especially since the building has been without power for over four months. They felt it was wrong that the association had to come up with solutions, arguing that this should be the administration's job. They also complained that not all residents who came to City Hall were initially allowed in, including a 94-year-old domino club member, though he was eventually let in. Another complaint was that David Hernández, the Councilor for Citizen Participation, wasn't at the meeting. He had also missed a meeting he called the day before at the association's building.

Mayor Afonso, for his part, repeated that the city is committed to getting the power back on. He promised to tell the power company that installing a temporary construction meter is possible, hoping to restore electricity quickly. Councilor Acevedo, however, chose not to comment, saying he didn't know enough about the proposal.

David Hernández, the Councilor for Citizen Participation, responded to the criticism by saying the power problem wasn't his direct responsibility. However, he assured them he was talking to the councilor in charge. He added that his department's main role is to help the association form its board of directors, which has been missing for years. He said this task is within his area of responsibility, and they are getting support for it through the PFAES program.