Sen. Joseph M. Mendiola, Covenant-Tinian, said he and Rep. Francisco S. Dela Cruz, Covenant-Saipan, said they want to work “with Telesource [and ask it] to amend its existing contract [with the utilities agency] so we can have alternative energy [on Tinian].”
CUC signed an exclusivity contract for 10 years with Telesource in May 1997, and this was renewed for another 20 years or until 2020.
Mendiola said CUC signed a new contract with Telesource in 2001.
Tinian does not have an alternative energy that will help address the public’s concern about the increasing power rate, he said.
In a separate interview, Dela Cruz said he wants to examine Telesource’s responsibility in providing the island alternative energy.
He expressed concern over a series of change orders made to the CUC-Telesource contract.
“I’m quite surprised to find out that immediately after the signing of this contract there followed three to four change orders in the contract,” he said.
One of the change orders, he added, involves Telesource providing additional generating capacity from the initial 10 megawatt of power.
“But immediately after that someone decided we needed more capacity,” Dela Cruz said.
He and Mendiola have not yet communicated with Telesource regarding their concerns.
“What we would like to do is meet with [Telesource] and hopefully come out with a [joint Senate-House] resolution,” Dela Cruz said.
But the resolution cannot be drafted until they meet with the power firm, he added.
Telesource is the sole power provider on Tinian.
