By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE Public School System’s December water billing amounts to $187,457 — a 36 percent increase from the November figure of $119,105.
The three schools with excessive water usage were Hopwood Junior High, $33,000; Tinian Elementary, $11,273; and Rota High, $10,034.
PSS, which is now paying for its own utilities, incurred a $413,305 utilities bill in October — $279,450 for power and $133,855 for water.
PSS federal programs officer and acting finance director Tim Thornburgh said schools were successful in reducing their power usage.
From a $262,203 bill in November, the figure was down 20 percent, to $209,056, in December.
Thornburgh said Marianas High School, which has the largest enrollment of over 1,200 students, was consistent in its power consumption incurring $22,000 for November and December.
“But the biggest factor in the reduction in our power bill is Kagman High School which incurred only $10,000 in December, compared to its November power bill of $25,000,” he said.
Saipan Southern High School, he added, also reduced consumption from $23,000 to $17,000.
This fiscal year PSS, with a $38.6 million budget, has allotted $4 million for utilities.
Thornburgh said they are expecting further reductions in their power and water bills in the succeeding months as a result of the repair of leaks and the installation of smart meters on campuses.
“We fixed the leaks in many of our schools. So we’re hoping that by making all this effort, PSS will be more energy-cost efficient,” Thornburgh said.