Govt says it saved $295K in power use

The CNMI government saved $295,000 due to reduced power consumption from May to July this year, CNMI Energy Division records showed.

Data showed that the Executive Branch realized a monthly savings of $84,219 or a total of $127,785 as of end of July, reflecting a 21-percent reduction in power consumption.

The Judicial Branch saved a total of $13,243 (14 percent savings) while the Legislature saved $1,428 (21 percent) since May 2005.

Among the autonomous agencies, the Public School System posted the biggest savings of $140,960 (39 percent) largely because there are no classes in summer.

Northern Marianas College saved $7,245 (13 percent) in power spending.

At the municipal level, Saipan’s consumption rose by 84 percent, or $1,689 more in payment; Tinian saved $4,046 (43 percent); Rota saved $1,815 (53 percent); and Northern Islands saved $164 (11 percent).

Within the Executive Branch, the Department of Public Health posted the biggest savings of $100,107 (45 percent), reportedly due to the recent installation of new air-conditioning units and reflective roof coating, which bounces off the heat.

In May, DPH’s billing was at $155,598. It went down to $126,248 in June and further down to $84,840 in July.

Based on the data, the Governor’s Office saved a total of $8,379 since May.

In May, its billing was up at $40,120, which then lowered to $35,214 in June. In July, it went up a little to $36,647.

The Attorney General’s Office lowered its consumption from $5,765 in May to $3,815 in June. The following month, it went up to $4,420 but overall, the AGO saved $3,296 since May.

Other agencies realized the following savings/expense since May:

* Department of Commerce, $1,146;

* Department of Corrections, $2,418;

* Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, $2,720;

* Department of Finance, $3,124;

* Department of Labor, $613 more in expenses;

* Department of Land and Natural Resources, $1,279 more spending;

* Department of Public Safety, $4,415;

* Department of Public Works, $4,073.

* Resident Representative, $155 more spending.

In a statement, Gov. Juan N. Babauta said that conserving energy “is good for your own pocketbook, and it’s good for the whole Commonwealth.”

He said that energy conserved “means more money stays in the CNMI economy.”

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. pays at least $60 million a year to Mobil Oil Marianas for fuel.

The governor began releasing monthly reports on government energy use “to keep the taxpayers informed and to encourage all departments in the government to keep up the effort to conserve.’

Babauta earlier said that beginning October 2005, government agencies shall be asked to pay for their own utilities.

The government is budgeted $5 million a year for utilities but CUC billings total some $12 million a year.