This will pave the way for CUC to rent the 15 megawatts generators from Aggreko International Power Projects Ltd.
Sponsored by Sens. Maria T. Pangelinan, D-Saipan, and Paul A. Manglona, R-Rota, Senate Bill 16-38 is now Public Law 16-9 and applies retrospectively to existing contracts.
“The governor may issue a retrospective declaration…for any contract in existence on the effective date of this Act, provided that the contract is for a term of two years or less and is for emergency wholesale power generation,” the new law stated. “Such contracts shall not be reviewable by PUC, and the wholesale provider shall not be considered a public utility.”
On June 19, CUC signed a contract with Aggreko to lease 10-megawatt generators for $336,000 a month.
This was later amended to 15 megawatts that will cost CUC $504,000 a month or $6 million a year.
Subsequently, the governor signed into law a measure mandating the Marianas Public Lands Trust to lend CUC $3.4 million to settle its arrears with its vendors and make an initial $1.5 million payment to Aggreko.
Aggreko will ship its power generators from Singarpore as soon as the initial payment is received from CUC.
The shipment to Saipan could take at least 36 days.
