st-Wednesday November 21, 2007 Letters to the Editor
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
To the Legislature:It is with such displeasure to inform you-our leaders-that deception in public office is a crime and is not tolerated lightly. We have spent well over five months pursuing what was good for the people of the CNMI and when we achieved it, something went drastically wrong. All of you had the opportunity to review our proposal of rate change on July 2 and 3, which the Senate president accepted as a working document toward H.B. 15-246, a bill to lower the rates introduced and authored by the minority leader Arnold Palacios. In our proposal we specifically requested further amendments be made, especially the removal of Section 18 thru 22 in the original House bill. The reason why we requested such an amendment is due to the fact that there was no Public Utilities Commission in place and the differences between the Executive branch and the legislative body on appointing a board was an issue hindering the process. At this point we do not believe that appointing anyone to the PUC board can be achieved because of the fact that no one in their right mind would dare take on such a responsibility since, in the end, he or she will be blamed for any wrong move. Although it is an honorable appointed position, we believe that one's credibility and integrity can be forever tarnished in the public view given the present situation of CUC. We are also mindful of the current high global fuel prices all over the world but that alone is not a basis as to why the people of the CNMI were deceived and taken advantage off. Furthermore, to you Mr. Arnold Palacios, we feel that you are the primary person responsible for this current situation we are faced now and we must seriously notify you that you have deceived the people of the CNMI, especially the voters. I respectfully urge you to prioritize CUC's shortfall as promised rather than concentrate on your speakership fight with Benavente. Concerning the speakership, we the people feel that none of you are qualified or even deserve to sit on such an honorable position. Therefore we recommend Congressman Stanley Torres to be Speaker of the House for he is a great leader who cares, understands that the people are suffering and he fights for the people. Gentlemen, we urge you to deliver and return what was promised to the people before the election. A home was burned down because of the use of candles and why is such a mishap happening near Christmas And New Year?
Gregorio S. Cruz Jr. President, Taotao Tano CNMI Association, Inc.
ROLLING BLACK OUT"S
OUTAGE November 19, 2007...lower dandan.
OUTAGE November 20th, schedule to go off in some parts of the Island.
OUTAGE November 21th, 2007 HITS KAGMAN
EMERGENCY BLACKOUT HITS SAIPAN November 21st, 2007 5pm without announcement.
ROTATING BLACKOUTS ARE BACK November 23rd, 2007
Feeder 4 - 1 in the morning and another from 7pm-9pm.
OUTAGE: November 25th, 2007
Feeder 4 - 1 at midnight and another at 7-9pm.
OUTAGE: November 26th, 2007
Susupe, Feeder 4 7-9pm & midnight for 2 hours.
OUTAGE: November 27th, 2007
Feeder 4 morning hours
HERE WE GO AGAIN
Local Sunday, March 30, 2008
Fate of power rate repeal now lies with Senate
By Agnes E. Donato
Reporter
House members are counting on the Senate to pass a bill repealing a law that reduced power rates in the Commonwealth.
Rep. Tina Sablan, one of bill's sponsors, said yesterday that passing the bill is a difficult political decision, but it “needs to be done.”
“I am hopeful that they [senators] will see the gravity of the situation and act expeditiously,” Sablan said in an interview yesterday.
Rep. Heinz Hofschneider, also a sponsor of the bill, expressed the same hope. “Everyday that we don't act to repeal that law means CUC will continue to burden the general fund,” he said.
House Bill 16-79 passed the Lower House with a 17-1 vote on Thursday. Rep. Stanley T. Torres voted against the bill. Representatives Oscar M. Babauta and Ralph Torres were not present.
The bill proposes to repeal Public Law 15-94, which forced power rates down to 17 cents per kWh in October 2007, and reduced or scrapped other charges for residential customers.
The law, compounded by the rising cost of fuel, has caused the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to face a shortfall of about $1 million each month for fuel alone.
Due to the shortfall, CUC for instance failed to pay for a full 30-day fuel supply last month. Power outages are now occurring partly because CUC is stretching to last for 30 days the 23-day supply that it managed to purchase.
Hofschneider said that the repealer bill would not only allow CUC to pay for full fuel deliveries, but also reduce government subsidy to the utility.
In addition, Sablan argued, the customers would not lose much if P.L. 15-94 was repealed. The law, she noted, has not been of any real benefit to the customers, since emergency regulations were adopted to give CUC flexibility in setting the fuel component of the power rates.
House Bill 16-79 will become law once approved by the Senate and signed by the governor.
http://home.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user
July - August 2007
SEPTEMBER 26, 2007 Update
TAOTAO TANO SPEAKS!
PROPOSED LAND LEASE TO CORRUPTED INVESTOR
UPDATE ON COPPER THEFT!
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