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CUC schedules 3-hour power outage today
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Posted on Dec 19 2008
Parts of Saipan will experience a three-hour power outage today, Dec. 20, as line crews of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. clear away hazards from power lines at the American Memorial Park and Smiling Cove Mariana.
In a statement issued yesterday, CUC said the power interruption will affect the entire Feeder 2 power grid and portions of Lower Base, CPA (Seaport), Hotel Street, Beach Road Garapan south to the San Jose intersection.
The outage, lasting from 7am to 10am, will allow CUC crews to safety clear all potential hazards such as trees and other vegetation away from the high voltage power lines at the park and the marina.
Over the last week, the Feeder 2 circuit has experienced two power interruptions as a result electrical faults caused by trees making contact with primary lines and failed distribution power pole hardware.
“To address this problem, CUC is scheduling the power outage [today] to perform the necessary line clearing and system inspections. However, prior to line clearing all vegetation must also be cleared from the highway shoulder so the bucket truck will be able to enter and reach the trees to be trimmed,” said the CUC statement.
As a protocol, CUC will trim only those trees that pose a hazard to primary or secondary power lines. The crews consider the tree’s health as they maintain the necessary power line clearance of at least 15 feet. All limbs overhanging over lines will be trimmed as high as possible. All efforts will be made to eliminate weak, diseased and dead limbs above the wires that may fall or blow into wires.
“CUC apologizes for any inconvenience this power interruption will impose on the community and will continue to perform all the necessary system maintenance to minimize future power interruptions,” said the utility agency.[B][I] (Saipan Tribune)[/I][/B]
