CUC’s Babauta gives self ‘above expectation’ rating

Commonwealth Utilities Corp. executive director Lorraine Babauta gave herself an “above expectation” rating in her first annual report to the CUC board of directors yesterday.

In the report, Babauta listed her achievements in the past year as CUC’s top management official and said she merits the “above expectation” rating for “executing and implementing board policy, strategizing to fiscally meet the daily requirements [of our customers].”

She noted that the series of oil price increases may have taken its toll on CUC’s budget, but “I am pleased to inform you that the board and I understand the precise direction for this utility.”

According to Babauta, CUC under her direction proved capable of handling emergency situations, as shown in the utility personnel’s alertness during Typhoon Tingting.

She reported that more than 55 power lines, and five or more power poles were downed during the typhoon. The lack of electricity at the main water well sites also disrupted water supply in various parts of the island. Further, the heavy rains caused wastewater overflows.

But CUC responded by rotating crews for 24-hour service, and using the media to provide safety information and assistance, Babauta said.

She also said CUC has been aggressive in its revenue collection during the past year.

“We know that each family pays monthly bills, but we want them to pay CUC first,” she added.

According to Babauta, some of the steps CUC has taken to ensure collection are sending representatives to government offices and large businesses to generate direct allotments from paychecks to CUC; making newspaper forms available for customers who want to make allotments twice a month to average their bills; and setting up customer service centers on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

Also, CUC entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Finance for regular government payments, she added.

Moreover, Babauta said CUC is never late in paying Mobil Oil for its $3 million monthly fuel charges.

The corporation has improved the work environment for its employees by sending them to training programs and establishing standards for all levels and types of employees, the CUC executive director said.

“We’re already seeing a somewhat strong trend of senior workers who’d elect to retire, and this stems, we believe, from strict and fair implementation of new regulations and policies,” she said.

Babauta also boasted of CUC’s improved relations with federal agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs.