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Gov’t settles utility bills
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Posted on Feb 16 2001
Five days prior to the implementation of disconnection processes, officials of Finance department yesterday settled a portion of its overdue utility bill in efforts to prevent possible disruption of power supply.
Officials of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation said a billing confirmation received yesterday from the Treasury Office disclosed that the Finance department settled its overdue account scheduled for Feb., 15 payment.
The finance department along with other government departments and agencies were among the first agencies provided with disconnection notices following the delinquent utility bills left unpaid over the years.
CUC corporate communication staff Ed Manglona said the payments made were for the Cycle 2 when an estimated $300,000 utility bills had been incurred.
Since the finance department settled its bills slated for payment this February, the notices can now be considered null, and disconnection of utility supplies may not push though unless payments for the Cycle 3 won’t be forwarded to the CUC, Mr. Manglona explained.
Early this week, CUC sent out another 61 disconnection notices to government agencies after the third cycle reading where an estimated $1.3 million utility bills were incurred by the Commonwealth government.
The notices were sent out to remind department heads of due dates of payments or face possible disruption of services.
Finance Secretary Lucy Dlg. Nielsen earlier lambasted CUC on its incorrect statement of unpaid bills claiming that the administration has been paying its utilities even during the economic crisis.
For FY2000, the secretary argued that the government paid the utility corporation an estimated $7.492 million and to date, $4.2 million. CUC earlier said that the government owes the corporation over $12.3 million utility bills.
The outstanding debts of the CNMI government, CUC Board Chair Jesus T. Guerrero said, has led to the inability of CUC to settle its financial obligation with Mobil Oil which earlier threatened to stop shipment of fuel supplies unless payments are made.
