By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

SAIPAN residents and businesses experienced a total of 1,327 hours and 46 minutes of blackouts from January to November last year, or roughly the equivalent of 55 days, according to data from the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
Each power outage averaged at least two hours a day.
Power outages in August reached 284 hours and 35 minutes.
CUC’s main source of electricity, power plant 1, was then experiencing a shortage of electricity due to its old engines showing exhaustion from constant use.
In September, residents and businesses had no power for a total of 239 hours and 11 minutes.
Of this figure, 207 hours and 45 minutes were due to rotating blackouts caused by the limited supply of fuel and electricity at the main power plant.
In July, Saipan experienced blackouts for 208 hours and 18 minutes.
That month, CUC doubled the power rates citing the high cost of imported fuel as the main reason.
Early this month, CUC took the first step toward the privatization of its power plants on Saipan by inviting local and foreign investors to prequalify for its privatization project through a 25-year franchise agreement.
CUC Executive Director Anthony Guerrero said the move will allow the island to get a stable power supply at an affordable rate.
“This plan is part of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s initiative to revitalize our economy by providing stable electric services and securing lower rates through the strengths of the private sector,” he said.
Guerrero said only those potential operators who meet CUC’s prequalification requirements —which are based on technical and financial capabilities and business experience — will be allowed to bid the privatization project.
CUC wants the winning bidder to take over the operations of the power plants, including the billing and collection systems.
The winning bidder will also be the one selling electricity to CUC customers.