House Floor Leader Marissa Flores speaks via video conference at a Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission meeting on Friday.
Photo by Bryan Manabat
HOUSE Floor Leader Marissa Flores has asked the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission to investigate the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation’s internal board policies and CUC management benefits, which she says affect public utility services and costs.
At a CPUC meeting held Friday, Flores, during the public comment period, raised several concerns regarding CUC’s internal policies.
Specifically, she accused CUC of implementing a policy preventing ratepayers from filing disputes on their utility billing charges — particularly those related to the Fuel Adjustment Charge or FAC.
“That is, number one, illegal — telling ratepayers they cannot dispute their rates,” she said.
Flores urged the CPUC to investigate these internal policies, arguing that they are detrimental to the public interest and prevent customers from challenging potentially unjust billing practices. She called for transparency and recommended that CPUC commissioners review — and potentially override — these restrictive internal policies that limit ratepayers’ rights.
Flores also raised concerns about CUC management benefits that go beyond legal requirements, such as health insurance and retirement packages.
“It has been brought to my attention that now we are paying for CUC gas allowances to members of the management team. That, sir, is unfair and unjust,” said Flores.
The Precinct 3 representative asked CPUC to investigate these gas allowances, questioning whether they are being paid through the Fuel Adjustment Charge and arguing that such benefits are inappropriate at a time when ratepayers are struggling to pay their utility bills.
She said the gas allowances should be scrutinized as part of a broader review of CUC’s internal policies and contracts.
“CPUC has the authority to review and approve or disapprove contracts and policies that might impact utility rates,” Flores said.
She also asked CPUC to look into the FAC rate composition and reconciliation process, and to investigate the potential over-collection of charges.
Flores requested a detailed, itemized breakdown of the FAC rate and urged the commission to ensure that CUC’s actions serve the public interest — not just the corporation’s interests.
In response, CPUC Chair James Sirok said: “The FAC reconciliation has been a high priority for the commission.”
Sirok, who is currently off-island, attended the meeting via video conference. Vice Chair Dr. Jack Angello and Commissioners Bruce Camacho and Oscar Quitugua (via teleconference) also participated.
Sirok added, “We have been requesting a reconciliation report from CUC for over a year and are considering potential sanctions against CUC for not providing the reconciliation report in a timely manner.”
He also noted that CUC’s monthly FAC notices typically include elements of the charge.
While some information may appear in fine print, Flores claimed that “FAC rates are not clearly itemized on the actual bill, and ratepayers deserve transparent, easily accessible information about what they are being charged.”
Variety was unable to get a comment from CUC.
