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Shortchanging the community
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Posted on Apr 30 2008
It is very frustrating to learn that the Senate rejected the bill to repeal the lowered utility rate. This week, two members of the Senate came out saying that PUC should be the one to set the rate.
This position is very cowardly and an irresponsible one. Who changed the rate in the first place? According to the local newspapers a senator is quoted saying, “Even if we repeal the law (by passing House Bill 16-79), whose rate are we going to follow?” Weren’t you part of the group that not only passed a bill lowering the rate but overrode the veto?
I am not for a higher utility rate. What needs to be done is to overhaul CUC. We need to stop making it a dumping ground for political payoffs for one. CUC must be made to operate as a business. Power generation can be a money-making operation.
As for the PUC, c’mon, the last I heard, they do not have an office or staff to get them going. Do we really expect PUC to be able to set the rate in three months, six months, 12 months? What about public hearings on the rates? In the meantime, what…more load shedding? Blackouts?
The correct thing to do is to repeal the law. I know this is not a popular thing to do, especially if one is going to be seeking re-election in the upcoming election. But let’s face it, we are no better off now than before the last election. It is clear that promises were made to lower the utility rate solely to get re-elected. However, once elected resolution regarding the power rate is transferred to the PUC. The community is shortchanged.
[B]Efrain F. Camacho[/B] [I]Navy Hill, Saipan[/I]
