Taotao Tano to CUC: Stop whining about shortfall

Local
Wednesday, October 24, 2007 By Marconi CalindasReporter


The Taotao Tano CNMI Association Inc. told the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to stop complaining and instead find ways to address the revenue shortfall it will incur due to the recent passage of a bill lowering the power rates for residential customers.In a recent letter to CUC executive director Anthony Guerrero, Taotao Tano president Greg Cruz said that CUC should stop its “scare tactics” and find solutions to the problem.“Mr. Guerrero please understand that the people have suffered enough and it is clear and evident that we the consumers have been subsidizing your utility agency, including paying for your operational revenue losses for the past years,” said Cruz.He said the years of “cover-ups” between CUC and the government, including past mismanagements and the fact that consumers have been paying for CUC's operational revenue losses, is unjust. Cruz stressed that consumers expect their utility billings next month to reflect the changes made under House Bill 15-246, which rolled back the monthly customer charge from $7.67 to $3.50. The measure was initially vetoed by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial due to the loss of revenue that CUC will incur. However, the Legislature voted to override the veto on Oct. 11, enabling its passage into law. Cruz said the anticipated shortfall in CUC's revenue should be dealt with between the local government and the power corporation. He listed some recommendations on what the utility agency could do, including cutting costs internally, asking the Commonwealth Development Authority to write-off its debt, and asking Department of the Interior deputy assistant secretary David Cohen for technical assistance in the form of grants.He said CUC should also take back all the nonresident mechanics and engineers, provided that CUC employees will get trained. Also, the “PIO should concentrate more on solutions, not complain daily in the media as to where is CUC going to get the shortfall. That is why she gets a high salary. Put her to work rather than complain in the media, making every consumer's life miserable,” said Cruz.