CUC launches Christmas lights contest
The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation has recently kicked off its annual Christmas Lighting and Decorating Contest on Rota and Tinian, but excluded Saipan from the competition due to weak power generating capacity on the island amid rising demand.
The event that debuted last year on Saipan is being held against the backdrop of economic woes in the Northern Marianas, but CUC officials said big cash prizes will be handed out to winners.
“Plug in some lights, enjoy the holidays and our Community Utility could energize your wallet,” CUC Chairman Juan S. Dela Cruz said in a statement.
Although success marked the first contest last year on Saipan, island residents will not be part of the competition this year because of a power shortage.
“There are many businesses on Saipan waiting to connect to our power system. We cannot connect these businesses because we cannot produce enough electricity,” Dela Cruz said.
He maintained that CUC’s large consumers like hotels and garment factories have already agreed to help ease power shortage by using their own generators during peak hours.
“So we do not think that it is fair or wise to encourage extra ordinary energy consumption when so many people are waiting in line to use that power,” the CUC chairman said.
Since both Tinian and Rota are enjoying excess power supply, residents on these island can participate in the contest which is open to both residential and commercial categories, according to CUC.
Judging will be conducted from December 15 to 18 while cash prizes will be awarded just before Christmas Day. Prizes include $500, $250 and $150 for residential and $1000, $500 and $250 for commercial.
Winners in the commercial category will donate their prizes to local charity, CUC said.
Entry forms are available at any CUC office or are published in the newspapers. They can be sent to the Saipan office through fax no. 322-4323; Tinian thru 433-9262 and Rota thru 532-9415. Utility employees and their spouses are not eligible to join.
Dela Cruz said: “Our utility family works hard to improve services for all villages. We sincerely hope that our customers realize that we are an important part of the community and happy to give something back during this holiday season. We hope that everyone is safe and enjoys the spirit of giving.”(BS)
