THERE were statements made in the Marianas Variety on Wednesday that need clarification. First, there was a quote attributed to Jack Angello that he said that CUC customers don’t have to pay their bills until PUC reached its decision in the disputed bills. As witnessed by other staff, Angello did not state that — he stated that customers with disputes faced the same situation that he and Representative Torres are experiencing.
Through CUC’s own regulations, everyone is paying undisputed amounts, and disputed amounts are suspended until the appeal process is exhausted, and whatever is ultimately decided in court shall be applied to everyone. Torres and Angello were given 30 days notice to pay their CUC bills, or ask for a repayment plan, or appeal the decision. Until that time, Torres and Angello plan to appeal their decision to the Public Utilities Commission, and since CUC made their case into a “group case” affecting everybody, PUC needs to hear this case, and everyone will eventually be affected by PUC’s decision that can be appealed to court.
Secondly, the Variety said that Torres and Angello represent customers in this dispute. Granted, when the rates went up, people came to Representative Torres’s office and asked for advice. His office staff extended assistance in helping people to file disputes, but explained that each person is ultimately responsible for their bill. There were notices even posted on the office door of Representative Torres. Torres as a legislator does represent CNMI residents, but customers who visited Torres’s office were told by all staff members that this was their choice to dispute and they would sign their own complaints and, if the dispute was denied, all would have to appeal. However, these since cases were made into a “group or global case,” the latest decision with Torres and Angello then effected everyone, and this decision was made by the CUC hearing officer, not Torres or Angello.
It now appears that all complainants are in this together, and CUC should honor the appeal process for Torres, Angello and everyone, and not disconnect customers who are following CUC and PUC policies and law.

REP. STANLEY T. TORRES
15th CNMI House
of Representatives