The Commonwealth Utilities Corp.\u2019s board of directors has set a period of 30 days to review a draft payment proposal from the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.<\/p>\n
CUC board chair Adelina Roberto said the board has started the review last June 30 and will come out with a decision on July 30.<\/p>\n
She said after a decision has been made, the CUC board will inform the CHCC and \u201cdiscuss our own board\u2019s findings.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the major components of the draft proposal is a monthly payment of \u201cat least\u201d $150,000 after the CHCC pays the CUC a $250,000 payment for the month of June.<\/p>\n
In a letter, the CHCC said it will make the monthly payment thereafter \u201cusing current allotment and other revenue sources until CHCC completes installation of a renewable system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roberto disclosed the CUC board\u2019s intent to conduct the 30-day review period during a meeting with lawmakers at Capital Hill on Monday.<\/p>\n
She also stressed to the lawmakers that the proposal from the CHCC is a \u201cdraft proposal\u201d and that the board will still need to discuss the proposal.<\/p>\n
John Riegel, chief engineer and acting executive director at CUC, commenting on the proposal, said the CHCC board may \u201cfeel comfortable to pay the $150,000 now.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the proposed payment plan did not indicate how long the CHCC plans to pay the $150,000 per month. He also confirmed that this is a \u201cconcern\u201d because the CHCC\u2019s power consumption in a month is about $500,000.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an initial proposal, but it is lower than the actual consumption,\u201d Riegel said, adding that the proposal \u201cis a very lengthy proposal, and is taking on two concepts.\u201d<\/p>\n
CUC, CHCC meeting
\nSen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan), head of the Senate Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation, and Communications, earlier called for a meeting with the CUC.<\/p>\n
After hearing the updates from the CUC, the lawmaker said he now wants both the CUC and CHCC boards to meet with legislators in about \u201ctwo weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Igisomar said he wants \u201cto know more\u201d about the situation between the CHCC and CUC regarding the draft proposal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a draft proposal, saying it is all the CHCC can afford. It might go up, and I\u2019m not saying it is a perfect agreement,\u201d Igisomar said<\/p>\n
He did admit that finds the proposal an \u201cinnovative payment plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Igisomar also expressed hope that the negotiations will bear results. \u201cIf the negotiations fail, and the CUC takes the CHCC to court, the government is again paying attorney\u2019s fees and other unnecessary costs,\u201d Igisomar said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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