Bill prohibiting weekend utilities disconnections fails to make agenda

GUAM—The 37th Guam Legislature’s Committee on Rules convened in the Guam Congress Building to determine the bills and resolutions that will be debated and voted on the floor during the September legislative session. Despite its potential impact on vulnerable and struggling island residents, Bill No. 290-37 (LS), which seeks to prohibit the disconnection of utility services on Fridays, failed to make the session’s agenda.

Democrat Sen. Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas, author of the bill, said the legislation intended to protect vulnerable island residents from enduring up to two days without access to electricity or water.

“I’m disappointed that Bill 290-37 did not make it onto the session agenda,” said San Nicolas. “This legislation would have ended the unfair practice of restricting access to vital resources from our island residents and further limiting their ability to address the issue until the following business day. Sadly, this was a missed opportunity to shield our people from the hardships associated with weekend utility shut-offs.”

Bill No. 290-37 would have mandated the Guam Power Authority and Guam Waterworks Authority to delay utility service disconnections scheduled for Fridays to the following Monday. While the measure sought to provide struggling customers more time to resolve billing issues and reduce the negative impacts of disconnections to vital services, it did not hinder the ability of GWA and GPA to do disconnections. San Nicolas emphasized that the bill was designed to safeguard the public and ensure fairness in timing without compromising utility operations.

“Bill 290-37 put the needs of our people first by protecting them from unnecessary hardships and ensuring they are not left without essential services over the weekend. Though this bill failed to move forward, I remain committed to finding solutions that prioritize and safeguard the well-being of our community,” San Nicolas said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on this issue and ensuring that we shield our people from unfair government practices and needless adversities.” (PR)