Previous Story
How much longer…
|
Posted on Feb 10 2014
I have been a resident of Saipan for almost nine years now, and after my retirement as a commercial pilot five years ago made my home here. I love the island and its people and have assumed a moderate lifestyle that is now being threatened by the ridiculous power rates charged by the CUC. However it is not totally their fault.
When the largest consumer of power here ignores its obligation to pay its power bill, the only way to keep the lights on so to speak is to charge all those who do pay their power bills a higher rate to make up for the deadbeats who ignore theirs. I am referring to the CNMI government, who as of the last time I was told owed CUC tens of millions of back and current power bills.
What is going on here? Don’t they understand how many of the people of Saipan suffer with the high utility costs? Have they ever kept track of how many small businesses here have had to give up due to the same situation? My big question is: “Why are the people not up in arms over this situation?”
I was told a long time ago that if the CNMI government were to start paying its power bills in a timely manner, all the rest of the users’ bills would drop by as much as 40 percent. I have not been able to confirm this, but it stands to reason if they would pay their fair share it would do a lot to help the situation. But to do nothing and place the burden on the backs of all the rest of us should be considered criminal. We don’t pay, we get cut off!
I think its high time for all who live, work, and have businesses here to DEMAND that this situation be taken care of. Elections are coming up again, and it’s a great time to hold these deadbeats feet to the fire and demand relief.
[B]Andy Nehring[/B] [I]Susupe, Saipan[/I]
