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Bill pushed to ‘reform’ CUC board
A bill has been proposed seeking to “reform” the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board of directors.
Senate Bill 19-07, titled “Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Directors Reform Act of 2015,” is being introduced by Sen. Sixto K. Igisomar (R-Saipan).
The bill states that “CUC must continue to operate as well as seek financing to successfully complete required projects to achieve environmental compliance and develop the utility.”
It further stated that the CUC “must have acceptable corporate governance in place,” in order to qualify for a grant or loan, particularly from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The bill adds that the executive director “has been acting under the governor’s direction to continue the operations of CUC without a board in place.”
One major change detailed in the bill is to “restructure the board of CUC so that it can act as a governing board,” that is a board that “determines policy and regulation, allocates resources, hires the executive director, oversees management and organizational performance, protects consumers and public interests, and makes major decisions.”
The bill also suggests a clear “delineation” of the roles of the board and management, where management runs the daily operations while the board makes and reviews “larger financial decisions and policy matters.”
There is also a need to hire an expert in the fields of energy and utility, the bill suggests.
Igisomar presented SB 19-07 at the recent session of the Senate of the 19th Northern Marianas Legislature. (Joel Pinaroc)
