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Force CUC to help its customers
The Hawaiian Electric Co. will soon be required by the state Public Utility Commission to help customers reduce their energy costs and install solar energy systems. The PUC made the strong move early last week, with the intention of addressing some of the many issues that Hawaiians have with the company—huge energy bills and lots of roadblocks to the installation and connection of personal solar systems.
The same is true in the CNMI—huge energy bills and lots of roadblocks to the installation and connection of personal solar systems from the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
The CNMI PUC should do the same and force CUC to help customers reduce their energy costs instead of following Alan Fletcher’s illegal moratorium on solar systems. The cost for a 4 kW solar system that will produce 720 kwh/m or $300/m, can be as low as $12,000 ($8,400 after the 30 percent tax credit). The simple payback for the solar power system is about 2.3 years with the 30 percent tax credit. After the payback period, the power from the solar system will be free and there will be no more payment to CUC except for administrative connection charge. The tax credit will expire on Dec. 31, 2016.
The new CUC board should make it incumbent on CUC to follow this roadmap to reduce energy cost for the people of the CNMI.
Wake up, people of the CNMI, and exert your rights to install and connect to the CUC grid in accordance with public law and lower your huge energy bill.
Fan makmatta taotoao Marianas, basta hit man mafababa nuesti siha taotao hiyong piotha esti i manianten i CUC.
Jose Tenorio Santos Servino, PE
President, Advanced Engineering Consulting Co.
San Jose, Saipan
