2 contractors submit draft A&E designs for underground power line system on Saipan

Two contractors have submitted draft proposals for the architectural and engineering design for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s underground power line system project from CUC’s Power Plant in Lower Base to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. in Garapan, according to acting CUC executive director Betty G. Terlaje.

In her report during the CUC board meeting last week, Terlaje said the draft proposals for A&E design are now being reviewed and evaluated.

With respect to CUC’s underground power service project on Tinian, she said Hofschneider Engineering was set to present the A&E design to CUC last week.

CUC has been pushing the underground power system project to ensure that Saipan and Tinian will have the capability to provide electricity for emergencies during typhoons.

That means that even during a destructive storm, Saipan and Tinian will continue to have power for CHCC, the Saipan airport, Garapan, the Tinian Health Center, and Tinian airport.

The $30-million underground power system is part of CUC’s mitigation project in the wake of Super Typhoon Yutu’s devastation on Saipan and Tinian in October 2018.