THERE have been several large damaging typhoons over the past few years. Each time after these storms FEMA gives money to “Harden the utility system.” We are here now with a new corporation executive director saying the same thing the system will be “hardened” this time.
What I feel may now be too late for an explanation is the Fuel Adjustment Charge I believe. The executive director stated “If I cannot get the money before the price goes up then, no fuel, so no generators, so no power.” This seems to be a true statement and simple to understand but let’s look at it a moment.
What has CUC done to save money to help the rate payer at this time of fuel crises? One thing is CUC has bought a lot of brand new big trucks with V-8 engines. These are the trucks that never turn off their engines all day just run the air conditioner. Oh sorry that is not right that is just an unchecked waste of fuel not a saving. Hardened the utility system, oh again sorry just talk there no saving.
The one saving I can find is CUC has not produced any power in almost a month. That should be a big saving for the rate payer. However, CUC is still trying to almost double the Fuel Adjustment Charge from 24 cents to 44 cents because the utilities corporation executive director says the fuel price will go up. Well, the fuel cost may go up and it may not since there seems to be a rather large shake up in OPEC that just occurred. And what will happen to the month of or now projected to be three additional months of lack of power generation but fuel in the tanks.
Monday, May 4, 2026 the CPUC was scheduled to meet to address this rate increase. I feel no one will look at what has not been said about the fuel state and the rate payer will be stuck with additional costs that will go to more big V-8 trucks to sit under trees with the engines running.
CUC and other government agencies should be honest and upfront with your plans and ideas so the public can understand and support you in what you are trying to do. Like I said before I do believe CUC is trying to restore the power grid but there is a whole lot of talk but no proof of this work. No traffic lights are working, very little water is coming to the homes (guess when the water flows they won’t tell you when). I want to believe CUC is doing its best in all its area of responsibility but they talk and not prove. They leave out facts and act surprised when the rate payers ask about things they thought were in place. When will anything be done to harden the utility system?
MIKE BLAKELEY
Garapan, Saipan
