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‘Important bills addressing CUC up for consideration’
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Posted on Aug 16 2005
The House leadership is inviting the public to attend the House session tomorrow morning, saying that “significant” legislative action to address the controversial fuel surcharge is expected to take place.
House leadership spokesman Charles Reyes Jr. said the majority bloc expects to see “a positive development” during the session.
He did not elaborate, noting that the leadership has been consulting with other lawmakers on how to effectively address the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s financial crisis, particularly relating to fuel costs.
Vice Speaker Timothy P. Villagomez said he hopes to see the passage of his recently introduced bill, which adjusts the CUC electricity rates, removes the fuel surcharge, and cancels the $45-million CUC debt with the Commonwealth Development Authority.
“My bill is a solution. It’s not a total solution, but it provides the numbers that CUC asked for when we met with them,” said Villagomez.
He said he is open to other solutions from his colleagues. “If they have other solution, they can present them,” he said.
He declined to comment on the proposal raised by minority leader Arnold I. Palacios to provide subsidy to CUC to shoulder the fuel surcharge payment for up to 2,000 kilowatt hour per household.
“I have not seen it so I cannot issue any comments,” he said.
Villagomez said he would be meeting with Palacios, and possibly other lawmakers, today to discuss their proposals in preparation for tomorrow’s session.
“Hopefully, we’ll pass this and see the Senate’s action,” Villagomez said. “We can’t sit down and do nothing because we are in an urgent situation.”
