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CUC bills resident $40,000 for power
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Posted on May 13 2008
A residential customer was shocked when she recently received her monthly power bill showing that she owes CUC $40,000.
And the most incredible part: The customer apparently incurred the $40,000 in only 24 hours use of power.
The customer, who asked not to be identified, told Saipan Tribune yesterday that upon receiving the bill, she asked herself what business or hotel she owns.
“Not only was I scared, I couldn’t sleep!” said the customer, who is currently employed with the government.
Saipan Tribune contacted the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. yesterday for comments but, according to acting Power Division manager Gary P. Camacho, he will relay the issue to CUC executive director Antonio Muna.
After getting the bill, the customer said she immediately went to CUC the following day to dispute it. She said CUC informed her that “it was a wrong date.”
“Right now I’m still waiting for CUC’s answer as to how much I really owe,” said the employee who showed to Saipan Tribune a copy of the bill that she photographed.
The customer said she also learned that three or four other residential customers received the same erroneous monthly power billings in amounts ranging from $10,000 to $40,000.
The government employee has two air-conditioners at home that the family uses only at night. Their average monthly consumption is $200.
When CUC announced the new power rates in early May, the employee called a family meeting where she explained to her children the situation.
“I asked my children how they could help out and explain their responsibilities in conserving energy further,” she said.
