LOCAL Briefs Senate hearing
The Senate Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communication will conduct two public hearings each on Tinian and Rota, concerning the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation’s policy, procedures and practice regarding collection of delinquent accounts.
The hearing on Rota will be held on February 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Superior Court, while on Tinian, it will be conducted on February 16 at 1:00 p.m. at the Municipal Council’s Conference Room.
Both town meeting will discuss laws and regulations governing CUC’s action on delinquent accounts, such as use of promissory notes, disconnection procedures and consumer rights.
Among those invited by the committee, chaired by Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez, are CUC board directors, the Executive Director, other CUC officers and town officials.
CUC new system
Responding to suggestions from Chalan Kanoa and Susupe customers, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. wll install new electrical system beginning this week.
According to Executive Director Timothy P. Villagomez, the utility is concerned about the quality and safety of the existing electrical system in those village.
CUC first conducted a study to determine the placement of the new electrical system. Now, customers will start to see action in their villages.
Some 164 utility poles will be installed, 117 new transformers will be put up and over 70,000 feet of new high voltage wires will carry power to the villages.
The total project cost is $2 million, partly funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior under the Capital Improvement Project.
“Customers used to complain that all they could see from their living room window were power poles and piles of spaghetti wires. Tropical storms would blow down transformers right in someone’s front yard — all because the village grew up and too close to the old electrical system,” Villagomez said.
Customers in Susupe and Chalan Kanoa can expect several power outages over the next year, starting February 9 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the areas covering Hopwood Jr. High, north to the WSR Elementary School and affecting most of Chalan Kanoa.
