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‘Repeal of fuel surcharge to take time’
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Posted on Jan 15 2006
The removal of the fuel surcharge being assessed by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. will take some time to happen, according to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.
The new governor has reported that he and Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez had met with utility experts from the United States and the Philippines to discuss alternatives to solve Saipan’s power crisis.
These professionals, he said, would submit specific recommendations to the administration concerning power generation and distribution.
“We have problems and we’re looking for solutions. We have already met with some people who will help us remove the fuel surcharge. It would take time,” said Fitial, who assumed the Commonwealth’s top executive post on Monday, Jan. 9, 2006.
The fuel surcharge was one of the most hotly debated issues during the 2005 campaign season.
Fitial, who won by 99 votes in the Commonwealth’s closest gubernatorial race, had promised that he would scrap the fuel surcharge once he was elected to office.
CUC implemented the fuel surcharge in April 2005, at an initial rate of 1.5 cents per kilowatt hour. The rate, which applies to all customer categories, was raised to 3.5 cents in May 2005. The law provides a 3.5-cent cap for the fuel surcharge during the first calendar year of implementation. (Agnes E. Donato)
