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‘Utility rates to go down in 6 months’
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Posted on Jan 25 2006
Utility rates will decrease and the fuel surcharge will be abolished within six months, according to the Fitial administration.
Press secretary Charles P. Reyes said yesterday that the new administration has set a goal to get tangible results at the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. within 180 days.
“We will bring the rates down and abolish the fuel surcharge fee—or if that can’t be done, reduce it significantly,” he said.
But first, CUC needs an organizational change, Reyes said.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is expected to issue an executive order suspending the power of several autonomous agencies, including CUC and the Marianas Public Lands Authority.
The governor will secure the Legislature’s approval before releasing the executive order.
“Some of the autonomous boards have a record of failure. They’ve shown dismal performance for many years running. Drastic measures may be necessary,” Reyes said.
In Fitial’s belief, the CUC board of directors is particularly ineffective, Reyes added.
Despite calls for the courtesy resignation of all Babauta appointees, CUC board chair Francisco Guerrero said on Tuesday that he would not resign from his post until Fitial explicitly asks him to do so.
Guerrero said he intends to complete his term with the board until April 2006.
Besides former CUC board vice chair Herman Sablan, who had vacated his post even before the new administration took office, only board member Joe Torres has disclosed tendering his courtesy resignation. Torres headed the Fitial administration’s transition committee for the CUC.
The CUC board includes board chair Guerrero, and members Alan Perez, Laura Manglona, and Rufina Miles.
