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‘Power restored to 97 pct. of Saipan, 87 pct. of Tinian’
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Posted on Mar 04 2019
Since Super Typhoon Yutu’s devastation last Oct. 24 and 25, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has already energized or restored power to 97 percent of their overall customers on Saipan, according to executive director Gary P. Camacho last Friday.
He also disclosed that about 87 percent of their customers on Tinian already have power.
Last Friday alone, 13 wooden power poles were replaced with concrete ones along Airport Road on Saipan as part of their hardening/resiliency program.
“We are just waiting for the materials. …Almost all customers are [now] energized, those that can be [connected],” he said.
There are still a number of customers that cannot be provided with power as their houses or buildings are damaged or have not been repaired yet, Camacho explained.
He said that, soon after Yutu, CUC used a lot of salvaged materials for temporary power and these are the ones they need to go back and replace.
“And that’s the materials we’re waiting on to arrive,” he said, adding that a lot of areas have been energized from used materials.
It is the same with Tinian’s situation.
Camacho said a lot of salvaged materials were used and that they are waiting for new materials to arrive to replace them.
Camacho said those used materials are only temporary and they are now waiting for new materials to arrive to finalize the restoration.
He said the use of salvaged materials is only temporary because it can cause problems such as voltage issue, among other things.
“So, the restoration continues and, on Tinian, it’s the same thing; however, it’s now at 87 percent,” he said.
The executive director said a number of salvaged materials and wires were used on Tinian and they have to be replaced.
“We’re moving forward in order to ensure that we have a safe or an efficient and effective overhead power supply system,” Camacho said.
Camacho had earlier stated they anticipate to complete the power restoration in the latter part of February on both Saipan and Tinian. (Ferdie de la Torre)
