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Open letter to CUC chair Francisco Q. Guerrero
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Posted on Nov 09 2004
Dear Mr. Guerrero:
A lot of people consider the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s fuel surcharge proposal unfair. This is probably because it is unfair, particularly for those who pay their utility bills on time despite the economic downturn that started more than six years ago. They are now being asked to pay more because CUC’s biggest customer, the CNMI government, has not been able to meet its obligations to the utilities corporation. CUC is basically asking the people to fix a problem they didn’t create.
The surcharge, of course, will result in additional expenses for the public and for businesses, which are likely to pass the costs to their customers, that is, the public. Moreover, the surcharge will not solve one of the major causes of CUC’s financial problems: the government’s ability to pay its utility bills.
On Sept. 21, CUC board members voted to defer action on the fuel surcharge proposal and, according to news reports, they urged CUC’s management to implement a “more aggressive policy on delinquent accounts.” I believe that this is still the right direction to take. Perhaps CUC and the CNMI government could also consider additional cost-cutting measures and more ways to improve their financial management.
Imposing this fuel surcharge, to quote CUC’s comptroller, is “putting hardship” on our already hard-pressed community. Surely the people deserve better from their government and utilities corporation.
Juan S. Tenorio
