By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
SAIPAN experienced its third islandwide power outage in February when an “auto‑trip” shut down the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s power system early Friday morning, leaving businesses and residents without electricity for more than two hours.
The outage began at around 7 a.m. on Feb. 27, 2026, and power was fully restored at 9:17 a.m., according to CUC.
An auto‑trip is an automatic protective shutdown triggered when a power plant’s control or relay system detects an abnormal or unsafe condition. CUC has attributed all three islandwide outages this month — on Feb. 6, Feb. 19, and Feb. 27 — to auto‑trip events.
Restoration timeline
CUC issued a series of updates as crews worked to bring feeders back online:
• 8:46 a.m. — Power restored to Feeder 7 (Lower Base Drive, Tanapag, As Mahetog, Achugao, San Roque, As Matuis, Marpi), Kiya 1 (As Terlaje, Fina Sisu, Kannat Tabla, San Vicente, Dandan, southern Papago/Botanical Garden, Isley Field, CPA/Saipan International Airport, Obyan, eastern As Perdido), and Kiya 2 (As Lito, Tottotville, Koblerville, As Gonno, western As Perdido, San Antonio, Afetnas).
• 9:04 a.m. — Power restored to Kiya 4 (Middle Road–Chalan Monsignor Guerrero intersection, San Jose/Oleai, Susupe, Chalan Kanoa).
• 9:06 a.m. — Power restored to Kiya 3, first partial (Chalan Kiya, Chalan Laulau, Quarter Master, Lower Gualo Rai).
• 9:17 a.m. — Power restored to all feeders.
“Our power team is currently investigating the issue and working to restore power gradually to each feeder,” CUC said in a statement during the outage.
Friday’s blackout disrupted morning operations across the island, affecting schools, government offices, and commercial areas during peak business hours. CUC has not yet released additional details about the cause of the latest auto‑trip or whether the three incidents are related.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
