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Bill wants to transfer appointment authority for CPUC commissioners
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Posted on Mar 08 2012
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Reporter
Rep. Stanley Torres (Ind-Saipan) will introduce today a bill that will strip the governor of power to appoint commissioners to the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission and give it to the three legislative delegations.
Torres, in House Bill 17-287, said the governor’s office has not been consistent and timely in appointing CPUC commissioners. The law requires CPUC to have five commissioners, but currently has only one.
“The regulatory functions and powers of the CPUC is extremely important to the daily operations of the utilities and telecommunications agencies and businesses in the Commonwealth, and any delays in its being able to properly function as a commission should be immediately addressed by the Legislature,” Torres said.
Under HB 17-287, the governor will no longer appoint CPUC commissioners. Instead, that authority will go to the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, the Rota Legislative Delegation, and the Tinian Legislative Delegation, with the confirmation of both the Senate and House.
Torres’ bill requires the Saipan delegation to appoint three members from Saipan, the Rota delegation to appoint one from Rota, and the Tinian delegation one from Tinian.
Torres pre-filed HB 17-287 a few days after he signed on as co-author of Rep. Janet Maratita’s (Ind-Saipan) bill that give lawmakers the authority to set not only residential power and water rates but also reconnection fees.
Maratita and Torres’ HB 17-283 removes “any and all authority” of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and CPUC to set utility residential rates and reconnection fees and transfer those functions to the Legislature.
Maratita said CUC and CPUC can still recommend rates, but the final decision will rest with lawmakers. HB 17-283 will also be formally introduced in today’s House session.
