Clarification on utility rates
The current utility rate for power being charged the local government was and still is $.16 per kilowatt hour. The previous CUC board tagged $.04 to the total to cover ($.02 apiece) water and sewer. Therefore, the current rate isn’t $.20 but $.16 per killowatt hour. This decision was subsequently published in the Commonwealth Register which is now policy. To reduce it to $.16 per kilowatt hour would translate to $.12 per kilowatt hour.
Meanwhile, we admire the new CUC board chairman for her stance against a proposal to forgive the $6.8 million utility debt of the local government. It takes courage to announce, in straightforward fashion, considered decisions of the board. The CUC board chairman said it right “Commercial and residential customers are disconnected for overdue charges of less than $100”. Therefore, it would grossly be unfair to forgive one and walk away from an obligation Scott Free while others are required to cough out their share.
Now, given the negative influences of the current crisis destined to get worse before it gets any better, perhaps the more equitable approach is a reduction in all rates for the local government, private sector and residential consumers. It should help everybody who’s struggling to make ends meet and ought to allow businesses to muddle through these difficult times.
An exploratory and deliberative discussion on this matter ought to grant the CUC board of directors a glimpse into the positive aspects of extending a helping hand to everybody, none of whom is spared the ravages of the deepening crisis. Why do we want to rub it against struggling businesses having to pay utility bills to the tune of $400-600 per month when most days they’ve only been able to rake-in $6-$10 daily sales? This is exactly the very issue that bureaucrats and politicians seem to have conveniently ignored, yet they’re on the frontline saying “we need more revenues”.
Our very lackadaisical attitude to ease the pain of a drop in business volumes is very discouraging in every essence of the word. We insist and demand that taxes be paid forthwith, yet we’ve never really buckled down to find out what most businesses are going through these days. Perhaps the very fact that government isn’t in the business of turning in a profit at the end of quarter or year has actually fueled our mañana attitude that all is well.
Friends, it’s the exact opposite. Families too have juggled budget in umpteen ways hoping that some magic would pop-out of wishful thinking. But they’ve found out equally quickly that empty family wallets are as real as you want it to be. And this month being “Back to School” time, many have decided to send their kids to public schools because the family budget just won’t be able to cover tuition, uniforms, school supplies, in private schools. Even for those whose kids go to public schools, it’s still very hard making ends meet and still be able to provide for school needs for, i.e., a family of four or larger.
It is for this reason that all agencies and departments must buckle down to reality check in our sickly financial posture since two years ago. It is for this reason too that we’re encouraging CUC that if per chance it grants a reduction in utility rates for the local government that such decision be made equally applicable to all consumers. After all, no one is spared the ravages of an economy that has taken a slide in downward spiral. Si Yuus Maase`!