With Sen. Jovita M. Taimanao, Ind.-Rota, absent, all eight senators present voted yes to House Bill-114 as drafted by the Senate-House conference committee. The measure now goes to the governor who is expected to sign it.
Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, thanked the members of the bicameral panel for drafting a version acceptable to both houses. An earlier version of the House bill as amended by the Senate was vetoed by the governor. A new bill introduced in the House was also amended by the Senate but rejected by the House. A conference committee was then convened.
Sen. Juan M. Ayuyu, Ind.-Rota, who heads the Senate conferees said “we need to move on.” He said he hopes the bill will satisfy the House, the administration and CUC.
Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian, said the bill had been going back and forth for so long between the two houses so he was glad that everybody finally passed it.
Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, commended the author of the bill, and added that he believes it will reduce the utility cost in the CNMI.
Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo, Ind.-Saipan, said the bill allows CUC to switch to a renewable energy source which may be a big challenge. He is confident, however, that the CNMI has the potential to provide its own people with more efficient and affordable power.
Authored by Rep. Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan, H.B. 17-114 will amend Public Law 16-17, the CUC privatization law, to remove its $250 million price tag payable in 40 years. The previous Legislature, which enacted the law by overriding the governor’s veto, feared that the administration would sell CUC for a “bargain” price to one of its favored businesspersons.
Matt Chargualaf, a former CUC safety officer who retired in September last year, said he was very glad that the bill was finally passed.
“We don’t have to delay the entry of vendors who are proposing to put in alternative energy. Without this amendment, the privatization law is preventing a lot of vendors from coming in,” he said.
Privatization will result in the use of renewable energy, he added, and CUC will no longer have to spend over $2 million a month on fuel.
The use of renewable energy, he said, “will mean big savings for everybody.”
