Electricity, water, and the Internet are three things we can’t live without, so you’ll want to get these set up as soon as you move to Puerto Rico so you can settle into your new home as quickly as possible. As with most bureaucratic processes, setting up these essentials will require time and lots of personal information and identification documents, but ultimately, it isn’t that hard.

How to Set Up Electricity

In order to set up electricity at your new home, you need to visit the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) office in person and present all the necessary documentation for installation. Prepare to wait at least a week for the setup to be complete, as the process typically takes between five to seven business days. The information and documentation you need to provide differs depending on whether you are contracting a new electrical service or service for an existing property, as well as whether you own the property or are renting it.

New Service

To have electricity set up at a new property, you must provide the following information about yourself and your spouse, if you have one:

• Your full name
• Your marital status
• Your Social Security number
• Your driver’s license or passport
• Your workplace
• Your work and residential telephone number
• The property’s physical address
• Your postal address, if different from the physical address (such as a virtual mailbox)
• A picture of your meter showing the serial number
• A down payment of between $100 and $150 (PREPA will indicate the exact amount when you apply for service)
• A Certification of Electrical Installation, which is obtainable from a professional electrician with a valid license (this document is needed if the property is new or has been without service for more than a year)
• If you are the owner:
  • The purchase agreement or deed of property
• If you are renting:
  • The rental or lease agreement
  • The name, address, and phone number of the property owner

Service for an Existing Property

To set up electrical service in your name for an existing property that already has electrical service, you will need to provide the following information:

• Your full name
• Your marital status
• Your Social Security number
• Your driver’s license or passport
• Your workplace
• Your work and residential telephone number
• If you are renting:
  • The rental or lease agreement
  • The name, address, and phone number of the property owner

New Service at a Commercial Property

If you have opened or plan to open a business with a physical location in Puerto Rico, you will also have to have electricity set up at your company’s building. To set up the service, you will be required to present the following information:

• The full name of the company owner or the company name
• A Certification of Electrical Installation, which is obtainable from a professional electrician with a valid license (this document is needed if the property is new or has been without service for more than a year)
• A use permit, granted by OGPe or the corresponding autonomous municipality, if the property is new or if there is a change in its use
• A down payment (PREPA will indicate the exact amount when you apply for service)
• A picture of your meter showing the serial number
• If an individual is requesting the electrical service, they must provide the following information about themselves and their spouse, if they have one:
  • Their full name
  • Their marital status
  • Their Social Security number
  • Their driver’s license or passport
  • Their workplace
  • Their work and residential telephone number
• If the business entity is a corporation:
  • Its Certificate of Incorporation
  • Its Certificate of Existence or Authorization to Do Business in Puerto Rico (must be less than six months old)
  • Its Certificate of Validity or Good Standing Certificate (must be less than six months old)
  • A memorandum from the board of directors authorizing the request of electrical service
  • Its Employer Social Security Number (EIN)
• If the business entity is a commercial or special company:
  • A constitution deed
  • An Agreement of Compensation and Continuous and Unlimited Guarantee (SE)
  • The company’s physical address
  • The company’s postal address, if different from the physical address
• If you own the property:
  • The purchase agreement or deed of property
• If you are renting:
  • The rental or lease agreement
  • The name, address, and phone number of the property owner

Mi Cuenta Online System

On PREPA’s website, you can access online services through a special portal called Mi Cuenta, as long as you are registered on PREPA’s system. On the Mi Cuenta system, you can conveniently view and pay your bills online. The portal also allows users to request various services, such as electrical service for an existing property, a transfer of service, a disconnection of service, validation for electronic certificates, and tree trimming or streetlight services. Additionally, the portal provides a way for users to submit a bill objection, if necessary.

Autopayments

Autopayments are the easiest way to pay your electrical bill—that’s one less thing on your plate and more time you can dedicate to growing your business. To set up autopayments with PREPA, you need to visit them in person and present your most recent PREPA bill, personal ID, payment method information, and a void check. If the account is not in your name, you also require authorization letter from the account holder to make changes and updates, as well as a copy of their ID.

PREPA Website: https://aeepr.com/en-us

Email: serviciosweb@prepa.com

Phone Number: (787) 521-3434

How to Set Up Water Service

Water service in Puerto Rico is provided by Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados de Puerto Rico, or AAA. You must be prepared to wait up to two weeks for your water service to be set up: Activation can take anywhere between seven and 14 days. You can request the activation service in person or via email, but it can take up to three days to receive a response if you make a request via email.

To set up water service at your Puerto Rican home, you must provide the following information:

• Your full name
• Your Social Security number
• Your ID card or driver’s license
• Your physical address
• Your postal address, if different from your physical address
• Your phone number
• A picture of your water meter showing the serial number
• Plumbers Certification issued by a plumber certified by the Colegio de Maestro Plomero of Puerto Rico (if the property is new or has been out of service for more than a year)
• A down payment (AAA will indicate the exact amount when you apply for service)
• If you own the property:
  • The purchase agreement or deed of property
• If you are renting:
  • The rental or lease agreement

Autopayments

You can easily set up autopayments of your water bill through AAA’s website. All you need to do is create an account, add information related to your service with AAA, and navigate to the payment options. You will need to indicate the payment method and enter the corresponding account information.

AAA Website: https://acueductospr.com/

Email: centrotelefonico03@acueductospr.com

Phone Number: (787) 620-2482

How to Set Up Internet Service

Internet service may not be as essential as electricity and water, but life in the modern world is more or less impossible without it. Puerto Rico has a number of Internet service providers throughout the island that you can choose from to connect your home to the rest of the world. Depending on the location of your home, the company you choose, and the type of service you opt for, activation time and requirements may vary, but in general, you will be required to provide the following information:

• Your full name
• Your Social Security number
• Your physical address
• Your postal address, if different from your physical address
• Your rental contract, if applicable
• A down payment or installation fee, if applicable

Depending on where in Puerto Rico your home is, you may have more or fewer Internet service provider options. Some parts of Puerto Rico don’t have access to more than one Internet service provider. However, if you’re moving to San Juan, Dorado, Bayamón, or another well-connected area popular among Act 20/22 (now Act 60) decree holders, you should have quite a few options to choose from.

Here are a few of the top Internet service providers in San Juan, all of which offer both residential and business Internet service:

Liberty

Liberty is a cable Internet service provider available in most areas of Puerto Rico, including San Juan, Dorado, and Bayamón. The website is accessible in English—you can change the language in the top right-hand corner—so it’s easy to understand what Liberty offers. Liberty offers coverage in 94% of San Juan, and its download speeds can reach 500 Mbps under its fastest option (up to 70 Mbps under its slowest option). Prices range from $56 to $171 per month, depending on your plan.

Website: http://www.libertypr.com/

Phone Number: (787) 355-6565

Claro

Claro is another popular Internet service provider that offers DSL Internet access, with maximum speeds of 50 Mbps, to 83% of San Juan and fiber Internet, with maximum speeds of 75 Mbps, to 16%. Claro Internet packages do not include data caps, and home Internet service plans do not include streaming limits, meaning Claro Internet allows for extensive usage, even if it is slower by default than some other options. Claro’s website is only available in Spanish, and prices are generally not listed online, making it a bit difficult to understand what you’re getting.

Website: https://www.claropr.com/personas/

Phone Number: (787) 281-2500

Optico Fiber

Optico Fiber offers, as its name suggests, fiber Internet connection to certain neighborhoods in San Juan, Bayamón, Carolina, and Guaynabo. It has a simple and transparent website in English, so you can easily understand what you’re getting. It is one of the fastest options on the island, with download and upload speeds of up to 1000 Mbps under its standard option. This plan costs $70 per month and comes with a two-year contract.

Optico Fiber also offers a “basic Internet” plan with 4 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up. This no-contract plan is available for a one-time payment of $300, which you can also choose to pay in installments of $50 over six months. Before you jump on the low prices, however, keep in mind that 4 Mbps is extremely slow—you will not be able to stream videos, and any sizeable download will take a long time.

Other Providers

There are plenty of other Internet service providers across Puerto Rico. Here is a list of several to check out, if you wish to do your own research:

Aeronet

Business

Website: https://aeronetpr.com

Phone Number: (787) 273-4143

AT&T

Residential/Business

Website: https://www.att.com/local/puerto-rico

Phone Number: (866) 861-6075

CosotNet

Residential

Website: https://cosotnet.com/

Phone Number: (787) 500-7026

Email: info@cosotnet.com

FiberX

Residential/Business

Website: http://gofiberx.com/

Phone Number: (787) 705-6999

Gigabit1 by AeroNet

Residential/Business

Website: https://www.gigabit1.com

Phone Number: (787) 705-0700

Email: info@gigabit1.com

Hughesnet

Residential

Website: https://www.hughesnet.com/

Phone Number: (844) 737-2700

Neptuno Networks

Website: www.neptunopr.com

Phone Number: (787) 774-0018

Email: info@neptunopr.com

XairNet

Residential/Business

Website: http://xairnet.com/

Phone Number: (787) 879-5755

Email: info@xairnet.com

Disclaimer: Neither PRelocate, LLC, nor any of its affiliates (together “PRelocate”) are law firms, and this is not legal advice. You should use common sense and rely on your own legal counsel for a formal legal opinion on Puerto Rico’s tax incentives, maintaining bona fide residence in Puerto Rico, and any other issues related to taxes or residency in Puerto Rico. PRelocate does not assume any responsibility for the contents of, or the consequences of using, any version of any real estate or other document templates or any spreadsheets found on our website (together, the “Materials”). Before using any Materials, you should consult with legal counsel licensed to practice in the relevant jurisdiction.