Arnold I. Palacios
GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios signed two new laws on Monday: one provides a $1,000 compensation for the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission chair and $800 for the commissioners, while the other allows the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. to pay commercial utility rates.
Authored by Rep. Vincent Aldan, the conference committee’s version of House Bill 23-97 is now Public Law 23-29. It also creates a revolving fund for the five-seat CPUC, which will be allowed to hire an executive director and staff members.
P.L. 23-29 states that CPUC, “must have greater control of its finances, expedited procurement of its needs and unencumbered hiring of its employees to successfully operate in a timely and efficient manner.”
The new law did not mention a specific funding source for CPUC, but it states that the commission can collect fees.
Co-authored by Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider, Senate Vice President Donald Manglona and Senate Floor Leader Corina Magofna, Senate Bill 23-37 is now P.L. 23-30. It allows CHCC to pay the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. the commercial rate for electricity, water and wastewater.
The new law noted that CUC “has threatened to disconnect CHCC from utility services for CHCC’s failure to pay its utility bills at the higher government utility rate.”
Early this year, CUC’s accounts receivable report stated that CHCC owed CUC $60.5 million.
