By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE local group Taotao Tano Association says the current rates charged by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. are not justified and merely add to the people’s hardship.
In a statement signed by its president Gregorio Cruz Jr., the group said it has been examining CUC records and found that the “problem” is between the central government and the CUC.
“I’ve been tracking CUC’s outrageous sudden increases in rates over the past years and months and I’ve concluded that the problem lies between the government and CUC,” he said. “The people of the CNMI have been deceived by their very own government both in the past and present,” Cruz said.
He added that CUC has “no relevant explanation that justifies its new rates and billings other than fuel increases, decreased fuel efficiency and under-recovered fuel cost.”
He said that it was 15 to 17 years since the last rate increase.
“None of (CUC’s) explanations seem to add up or are justified,” Cruz said. “Rather, there is a complete cover-up…to ensure uninterrupted power service to our government.”
He said he was saddened by the outcome of the CUC case involving Rep. Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan, and the administration.
“It’s not only the loss of the congressman…but the loss of every individual member of the community,” Cruz said.
He said the court’s temporary restraining order was intended only for the government’s outstanding water and sewer bills.
”What about the electrical billings? This was not in the TRO as specified and disputed,” the association’s letter stated.
Cruz said that on behalf of all the customers of CUC the association has requested documents from the agency about past dues and delinquent customers.
He said CUC told him he was to wait 10 days for its response.