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CUC mess a management problem?
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Posted on Jul 29 2005
By George Camacho
On fuel surcharge, the immediate impact, of course, is the increased electricity billing. We used to pay an average of $175 a month. When the fuel surcharge took effect, it went up to $200 to $250 a month. It’s something that we didn’t expect.
The idea of fuel surcharge is allowed by law. The CUC does not have enough money to buy fuel but I want to know if it’s true that the money collected supposedly for fuel, and which could have been tapped in lieu of imposing fuel surcharge, was used for something else by CUC and it never went to fuel for fuel purchase.
How can the government address this mess? The issue involved is complex. It starts with CUC. I think CUC needs to do a self-evaluation. CUC needs to look within itself first. Reorganize? Maybe, if that is what it will take. It’s probably a managerial problem.
You have to understand, the fuel surcharge only happened now. It never happened before, although it’s allowed under the law.
I think CUC needs to explore the possibility of just increasing its regular rates. If they did, probably we never had to have the surcharge. To us consumers, the effect would be the same, but at least with the rates, you only pay for what you use.
Likewise, the government should continue to do energy-saving measures. They are doing it now, and should continue doing it.
(George Camacho is a government employee and a father of two.)
