The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. confirmed that the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. has kept up with its utility billings and hasn\u2019t missed a payment so far, while the Torres-Palacios administration has paid its part in November.<\/p>\n
In an interview with CUC chair Miranda Manglona, she stated that CUC chief financial officer Greg Cruz has confirmed that CHCC and the administration have been on track with their payments.<\/p>\n
When asked how much CHCC now owes, Manglona stated that they don\u2019t have the amount yet, but hopes to know how much is owed by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
As for the change of rates, Manglona stated that both CUC and CHCC board are looking at more favorable solutions for both agencies.<\/p>\n
Manglona told Saipan Tribune that CUC management participated in a joint meeting with the CHCC board and manager that focused on arrears and water rate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to come up with a favorable solution to both agencies,\u201d said Manglona. Additionally, there has been no definite solution to resolve CHCC\u2019s arrears and water rate.<\/p>\n
CHCC recently requested to change its water and wastewater for the hospital from a government rate to a commercial rate, saying it has learned that there is no government rate for water and wastewater.<\/p>\n
In a letter CHCC recently sent CUC, it said it has learned that only the electrical service has a government rate, which means that water and wastewater can be considered either residential or nonresidential. <\/p>\n
\u201cOn Dec. 10, 2020, CHCC became aware that the customer classification under which the CHCC has been billed by the CUC for water and sewer\u2014\u2018government\u2019\u2014does not exist according to CUC\u2019s regulations for water and sewer services,\u201d states CHCC\u2019s letter to CUC.<\/p>\n
In the letter, CHCC stated that CUC has to classify users of its utility services as commercial, residential, and governmental, or other classes that CUC deems appropriate.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor wastewater, or sewer services, CUC has determined there to be two classes of customer: residential and nonresidential,\u201d said CHCC. Nonresidential customers have been determined to include barracks, hotels, restaurants with attached living quarters, etc.<\/p>\n
CUC legal counsel Jose P. Mafnas Jr. has declined CHCC\u2019s request to switch rates and insists that there is a government rate for water and wastewater\u2014$54.30 per 1,000 gallons of water and $0.0300 per gallon of wastewater.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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