CUC resorts to load-shedding anew

Less than a week after the lifting of the emergency declaration that placed the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. under the governor’s control, the utility firm yesterday began power load-shedding to ensure that Saipan’s fuel stock would last until new fuel supplies come in.

“Due to our worsening financial condition, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. cannot make payment for the scheduled fuel deliveries to Power Plants 1 and 4 today,” the CUC said in an emergency public announcement.

The two power plants, which supply electricity to most parts of Saipan, have run low on fuel. The current fuel stock can only last a few days if new supply does not come in soon.

CUC’s acting executive director, Sohale Samari, said the CUC needs some $2 million of subsidy from the CNMI government this week—plus $1 million each for the two succeeding weeks—to ensure sufficient fuel stock that would support power generation until Jan. 9, 2006.

The CUC said the emergency load shedding, which began yesterday afternoon, would last indefinitely until it notifies the public otherwise. It has come up with a three-day schedule of power outages, which will also affect the CUC’s water and sewer services.

Power outages occurred on various parts of Saipan, including Capitol Hill, Papago, Kagman, Susupe, Chalan Kanoa, Chalan Kiya, San Jose, Lower Base, Gualo Rai, Chalan Laulau, and Marpi, among other areas.

The CUC also released the schedule of power outages today and tomorrow, to wit:

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005

1100-1300H Lateral under Feeder 1: Areas around Downtown Market, portions of China Town, Upper MIHA, Duty Free area and Annaks Apartments in Puerto Rico

Lateral under Kiya 1: Areas around Stanford Hotel, Kanat Tabla and US Garment in Chalan Laulau

Lateral under Kiya 4: Areas around Town House and portions of Chalan Kanoa District 4

Lateral under Kiya 2: Areas around MGM Garment in Chalan Piao and STI in As Lito

1300H-1500H Feeder 2 – 1st Partial: Lower Base, Puerto Rico, American Memorial Park, and Garapan (Hotel Area)
2nd Partial: Garapan Beach Road (Kristo Rai) and Chalan Laulau

1500H -1700H Feeder 3 – 2nd Partial: Gualo Rai, Chalan Laulau, As Falipe and portions of China Town

1700H – 1900H Kiya 2 – 1st Partial: As Lito, portions of Koblerville, portions of Chalan Kanoa Districts 1, 2 and 3 and Chalan Piao
2nd Partial – Chalan Kanoa District 3 and portions of Districts 1 and 2, areas along Tun Doi Road, Fina Sisu, portions of As Perdido, Chalan Piao and San Antonio

1900H – 2100H Kiya 1: 1st Partial – Portions of Chalan Kiya, As Terlaje, portions of Fina Sisu, El-Toro Dandan, Kanat Tabla, Airport Road, Lower Dandan, San Vicente, Isley Field, Obyan, Laulau and Papago
2nd Partial – Lower Dandan, portions of Upper Dandan and Isley Field
3rd Partial – CPA/Airport, Koblerville, As Perdido, and As Gonno

2100H – 2300H Kiya 4: 1st Partial – Chalan Kiya, San Jose, Susupe, and portions of Chalan Kanoa Districts 1 and 2
2nd partial – Susupe and Chalan Kanoa Districts 3 and 4

Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005

1100 – 1300H Lateral under Feeder 1: Areas around Downtown Market, portions of China Town, Upper MIHA, Duty Free area and Annaks Apartments in Puerto Rico

Lateral under Kiya 1: Areas around Stanford Hotel, Kanat Tabla and US Garment in Chalan Laulau

Lateral under Kiya 4: Areas around Town House and portions of Chalan Kanoa District 4

Lateral under Kiya 2: Areas around MGM Garment in Chalan Piao and STI in As Lito
1300H – 1500H Feeder 2: 1st Partial – Lower Base, Puerto Rico, American Memorial Park, Garapan (Hotel Area)
2nd Partial – Garapan Beach Road (Kristo Rai) and Chalan Laulau

1500H – 1700H Feeder 4: 1st Partial – Lower Base, Sadog Tasi, Capitol Hill and As Quina (Wireless)
2nd Partial – Parts of Capitol Hill, Mt. Tapochau, As Teo, Papago, Kagman

1700H – 1900H Kiya 1: 1st Partial – Portions of Chalan Kiya, As Terlaje, portions of Fina Sisu, El-Toro Dandan, Kanat Tabla, Airport Road, Lower Dandan, San Vicente, Isley Field, Obyan, Laulau and Papago
2nd Partial – Lower Dandan, portions of Upper Dandan and Isley Field
3rd Partial – CPA/Airport, Koblerville, As Perdido, and As Gonno

1900H – 2100H Feeder 3: 2nd Partial – Gualo Rai, Chalan Laulau, As Falipe and portions of China Town

2100H – 2300H Feeder 7: 1st Partial – Lower Base, Tanapag and Achugao
2nd Partial – San Roque, As Matuis and Marpi