Teno: Let’s save energy, water

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has ordered departments and agencies to turn power off after office hours and check faucets for leaks as part of his effort to cut down government utility costs amid its mounting debt to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation.

He issued a memorandum last week after CUC Board Chair Jesus T. Guerrero had asked him to implement drastic conservation measures while the administration is seeking ways to reduce outstanding balance that has now reached at over $12 million.

The government-owned utility corporation has expressed concern that the offer by finance officials of $250,000 quarterly payment will never be sufficient to bring down the debt as public offices continue to run up bills of more than a million dollar per month.

In the memo, Mr. Tenorio acknowledged its financial obligations to CUC will continue to grow “exponentially unless conservation practices are not carried out constantly.”

He instructed Cabinet and executive officials to advise employees to minimize the consumption of electricity and water at all times, both in the office and in their homes.

“Please see that all lights, air conditioning units and office machines are turned off during non-working hours, except those needed to be on for the protection of sensitive equipment or supplies,” Mr. Tenorio said.

The chief executive added electronic equipment and appliances, like computers and copy machines, should be turned off when not in use, including during lunch break, as he has been made aware that they have been kept on constantly. Water taps and faucets must also be checked for leaks and repaired if necessary.

“Your cooperation in conserving energy and water is absolutely essential. Please help us,” Mr. Tenorio said.

The government is the biggest single customer of CUC, with power, waste and waste water bills running up to more than $1 million each month.

While the CUC board has approved a payment schedule requiring the Tenorio administration to pay about $1.5 million for the first six months in a bid to cut the debt by half, Finance Sec. Lucy DLG. Nielsen has rejected the plan and instead offered the quarterly payment.

Some people, including former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio, have urged the utility corporation to cut off services to public offices to comply with its tough disconnection policy that is being applied on both residential and commercial customers who are delinquent in their payment.

CUC officials have also raised worries that the decision by lawmakers to zero out utilities payment of $4 million for this year will further aggravate the problem and hurt the corporation’s financial stability.

The Teno administration has been unable to meet several of its financial obligations, which also include retirement share for its employees, due to the huge liabilities it inherited from the previous administration and worsened by the economic crisis that hit the island in 1997.