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‘Blackout rotation may end this month’
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Posted on Oct 22 2006
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. may lift by the end of the month the blackout rotation that CUC has been implementing on Saipan in the past several months.
CUC executive director Anthony C. Guerrero disclosed to Saipan Tribune that there is a strong possibility they may stop the load shedding schedules before the end of the month instead of their target date of mid-November.
“Depending on how our situation improves in the power plant within the next few weeks, I think it is safe to say that maybe there is a good possibility that we will cut our load shedding and possibly lift it soon,” Guerrero said.
Guerrero said power engine no. 1 recently came back on line while power engine No. 8 is expected to come on line very soon.
“There’s some conservation (of power) from the public. It is giving us a little bit more of a reserve, but not yet enough to allow us to manage our load,” he explained.
The executive director said before the implementation of the emergency power rates, CUC asked $2.5 million every month from the central government to buy fuel.
“So right now the amount of revenue that we’re getting is equivalent to the assistance that we’re getting (before). So it is safe to say that we’re getting additionally $2 million more every month than previously based on the new rates,” he pointed out.
“It is meeting our fuel costs. It is additional money that is now meeting our costs,” he said.
Guerrero, however, stressed that CUC is not making a profit with the new rates, but only meet their costs pursuant to the law.
On the people’s disappointment and anger over the rate increases, Guerrero said he feels for them.
“I know it is difficult for each and everyone of us. Employees at CUC are rate-payers also. I get concerns everyday. I understand it is a drastic increase. Again, he have to address the fuel issue and this is our way of addressing it,” he added.
During Wednesday’s public hearing at Oleai Elementary School, many Saipan residents strongly opposed CUC’s proposal to make the power rate increases permanent.
