By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

THE Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has rejected Rep. Stanley T. Torres’s payment plan proposal to settle his disputed electric bills that accumulated over time as he waited for a decision on his customer complaint.
The CUC administrative hearing office ruled against Torres and other customers who complained that the new power rates were illegal, and they are now obliged to settle their bills.
Torres, Ind.-Saipan, has asked CUC to allow him to settle his more than $2,036 in unpaid disputed bills by first making a 10 percent payment with the balance paid within nine months.
CUC records show Torres having unpaid disputed bills under account no. 12848-81 of $803.23 as of Feb. 2007 and under account no. 34375-6 of $1,233.46.
Torres wrote CUC on March 27, requesting a payment schedule to settle his unpaid bills by making a 10 percent payment first on each account.
But CUC Executive Director Anthony Guerrero said it would be unfair if the request was granted since other customers who are in similar situations after contesting CUC’s new power rates are required to pay 25 percent of their disputed charges and are given three months to settle the balance.
“Since implementing the general payment plan, numerous customers have come forth to accept the plan,” said Guerrero to Torres. “In light of this, and in fairness to these customers, CUC respectfully rejects your proposal, as it is inconsistent with the payment plans entered into with other customers.”
“Further, acceptance of your proposal may give the appearance that CUC granted you more favorable payment terms because you are currently an elected CNMI official,” he added.
The CUC executive director also told Torres that his unpaid disputed bills have accrued late charges of $108.75 from Sept. 2006 thru March 2007.
Guerrero said Torres’s current charges of $288.13 on both accounts are not included in the computation and that the lawmaker should make those payments to prevent his power from being disconnected.
“To prevent your accounts from being disconnected for nonpayment of the unpaid disputed amounts, you must pay the additional amounts of $117.44 for account no. 12848-8 and $181.32 for account no. 34375-6 that are needed to equal the 25% down payment and sign the three-month promissory notes for $602.42 and $925 for the respective accounts no later than the next business day, following receipt of this response,” said Guerrero. “Failure to pay such amounts and or sign the promissory notes shall constitute a basis for discontinuance of electric service by CUC,” he added.