COE firm on energy conservation policy

Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan disclosed to Saipan Tribune that the energy conservation directive she issued early this month will stand and there’s no way she will revise or cancel it at this time.

Starting on Feb. 6, an across-the-board policy was implemented by the Public School System which reduced the number of air-conditioning consumption in all public schools and offices in three islands. Early dismissal of classes in the elementary was also ordered including the shutting down of energy during weekends to save on costs.

Since its enforcement, Sablan said PSS has noted a 33-percent savings in its utility cost.

In an earlier report to the education board, PSS finance director Richard Waldo disclosed that monthly utility consumption of the system amounts to $400,000. The commissioner told Saipan Tribune that she targets to see at least 40 percent utility savings from the new directive.

“No one is exempted from energy conservation and cost-saving measure including the Board of Education and central offices. Everyone must adhere to the directive. I don’t have any plan to revise this directive until I see cash flowing in [for PSS] and as far as I am concerned, right now I don’t have any timeline,” she told Saipan Tribune.

Since the directive’s implementation, the commissioner admitted receiving complaints from some schools due to the adjustments made to the air-conditioning use which is from 10am up to 2pm for elementary, while for secondary schools and PSS administrative offices it is from 10am to 3pm.

Sablan appealed to staffers and teachers to continue to bear the little sacrifice for the school system. “I asked everyone to sacrifice a little bit because at the end of the day it’s really about everyone’s benefits. Again, I do asked parents, teachers, and staff to help endure this because we’re doing it for a reason,” the commissioner said.

Sablan revealed that if PSS will go without ACs, the system can save by 75 percent in its utility cost.

Prior to the commissioner’s directive, it was disclosed by PSS officials that despite some energy conservation efforts implemented in all public schools, monthly billing for each school’s consumption continues to yield a higher charge. As of November 2011 billings alone, it shows that schools incurred about $400,000 monthly charge—an amount significantly higher than what was expected and recorded in previous months.

If this continues, PSS will incur $4.8 million in power cost until the end of fiscal year.

PSS, under the budget allocation for fiscal year 2012, was provided only $30 million of which $28 million will be utilized in paying for personnel salary while $2 million for operation and all others and this include utilities.

It was learned that PSS is making a monthly payment of approximately $100,000 to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.