Rolling outages return

After just two weeks since lifting the rolling blackouts, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. implemented again yesterday the rotating power outages, affecting almost all areas on Saipan for several hours.

CUC assured, though, that as soon as repairs on Power Engine No. 1 are completed at the Power Plant I in Lower Base, the load shedding schedule will be cancelled.

CUC spokesperson Pamela Mathis told [I]Saipan Tribune[/I] that they re-implemented the rotating blackouts due to generation malfunctions on Power Engine No. 1.

Mathis explained that Engine No. 1, which was down and had gone through repairs last August and September, was tested last Friday.

She said the engine was operational on Saturday, but on that same day, it malfunctioned due to a loss of its electrical system.

“The electricians were working on it over the weekend and it is still not operating today. Repairs are still ongoing. So we cannot produce enough energy to supply all of the demand,” the spokesperson pointed out.

Mathis appealed to consumers to conserve energy and reminded people that there is peak customer demand on hot days in the afternoon from 2pm to 4pm.

She said the biggest customer demand of the day begins at 7:30pm until 10pm.

“Both of these peak demands can really stress operations,” said Mathis.

She urged customers to conserve energy by turning off their air-conditioners as much as possible, especially during those peak hours.

“That helps a lot. It is vital for businesses that are closing at 5pm—whether it is a government office, a school, or a business—that all of their air-conditioning units and as much of their lighting and computer systems should be off. That will help the overall residential and commercial customers who really need power from 7pm to 10 pm,” Mathis added.

The rotating outages started yesterday at 8:15am to 10:30am along Garapan Beach Road south to San Jose.

From 10:30am to 12:30pm, the outages were along Middle Road, Commonwealth Health Center south to San Jose.

From 12:30pm to 2:30pm, affected were the Governor’s Administration Building, Retirement Fund Building, and Legislature Building.

From 2:30pm to 4:30pm, the blackout covered all of Kagman.

From 4:30pm to 6:30pm, the outage schedule was at Chalan Kanoa Tun Doi Road back to As Lito Road and ar
eas near Mobil Station in Koblerville to William S. Reyes Elementary School in Chalan Kanoa.

The 6:30pm to 8:30pm blackout schedule was in San Jose, Susupe and south to the Chalan Kanoa Post Office.

From 8:30pm to 10:30pm, the power outage schedule was in Lower Base industrial area, north to Tanapag, Achugao, San Roque, As Matuis, and Marpi.