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Public briefing today on power situation
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Posted on Aug 24 2005
Gov. Juan N. Babauta will hold today his third weekly public briefing on the power situation on Saipan.
Peter A. Callaghan, the governor’s press secretary, said the governor would provide an update on the power generation status, particularly on the maintenance and repair work being done on the three broken engines at Power Plant I in Lower Base.
On the privatization issue, Babauta will offer information on the financial status of the two independent power producers whose proposals are being reviewed.
“The governor will also mention conditions that need to be meet before he lifts the state of emergency,” Callaghan said.
The public is encouraged to attend the briefing. It will be held starting 11am at the Multi Purpose Center in Susupe.
Commonwealth Utilities Corp. officials, led by acting executive director Bernard Villagomez, will also be present to answer questions from the public.
The Governor’s Office has assumed control of the CUC since the May 19, 2005 state of emergency declaration.
The governor’s goal for the original declaration was to secure a long-term fuel contract for CUC. This was accomplished with the contract signing between CUC and Mobil on June 3.
Babauta has since made 30-day extensions to the declaration, citing CUC’s lack of “back up” or reserve power generation capacity; the continued need to initiate critical maintenance and repair of power generation facilities; and the uncertain financial condition of CUC and its ability to make all required fuel payments, especially given the proposed repeal of CUC’s ability to impose a fuel surcharge.
