Credit for CUC customers eyed
Representative William S. Torres last week urged the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Chair Jesus Guerrero to compensate customers who have to source water from private suppliers because of water shortages in their area.
The lawmaker said that although water rationing has long been a familiar problem in Saipan hamlets like Garapan, Chinatown and Chalan Laulau in the past, the situation has become more worse these days.
He added that since January this year, residents around the Kristo Rai Church area and right below a road-front hardware/poker arcade have water dripping from their faucets only for about three to five minutes a day.
“Consequently, these folks, and others in the same situation (in Garapan, Chinatown, Chalan Laulau and San Jose), have to fork out extra hard-earned cash in order to get the most basic necessity in life — water,” Mr. Torres wrote Chairman Guerrero.
According to the lawmaker, Mr. Guerrero and his board should consider a temporary measure that would alleviate the extra expenses of their customers through a utility offset credit.
Mr. Torres noted that the offset credit would be used for monthly utility assessment and would only be offered to customers who have shown proof of their billings like receipts.
“This is just plain fair. It also serves the same purpose for which CUC makes tap water available to private residents and businesses alike. But, when this expectation is unmet, forcing people to purchase tap water from private vendors, then the least that could be done to alleviate this plight is offset the continuing monthly charges on water by ratio to the amount purchased through a private supplier,” he noted.
In his letter to Mr. Guerrero, the congressman asked why despite already over $1 million appropriated by the Legislature to correct the dismal water supply in Garapan, Chinatown and Chalan Laulau, the faucets in the area remain almost always dry everyday.
“Is there anything further other than the $1 million appropriated for water upgrade that the legislature needs to do assist CUC with?,” the lawmaker remarked.
