Spearheaded by Rep. Tina M. Sablan, Ind.-Saipan, and small business owner Ed Propst, the forum heard comments and suggestions from members of the community.
The lawmakers who attended the forum were Sen. Maria T. Pangelinan, D-Saipan, Saipan Republican Reps. Diego T. Benavente, Stanley T. Torres, Ralph DLG. Torres, Edward T. Salas and Rosemond B. Santos.
Sablan noted every comments and suggestions, while Propst facilitated discussions about the high power rates, CUC’s mismanagement, the frequent power outages, the delayed rehabilitation of engines at the power plants, and other utility issues.
One small business owner said he favors filing a class action suit against CUC instead of submitting a dispute letter to the agency.
Another participant favors the privatization of CUC to bring efficiency to its services and management system.
A senior citizen said he would like the CNMI government to construct a new power plant and do away with the old power facilities.
Rep. Ralph DLG. Torres said he hopes the passage of House Bill 16-77, which seeks to privatize CUC, will address the problem of mismanagement.
A project management contract needs to be applied to CUC, he said.
The participants said an energy summit and a comprehensive legislative oversight on CUC are among their “short-term solutions/reasonable demands.”
“A legislative oversight would be the first step toward a solution,” Sablan said, adding that it will not actually solve the power crisis right away, but “it’s something that can be done now.”
Propst agreed, saying that an oversight is an important step because lawmakers have the authority to subpoena individuals to appear before the Legislature.
Salas told Variety that the last time a legislative oversight on CUC was conducted in 1990.
Participants of the public forum were handed copies of a customer account billing dispute forms.
