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CUC’s Yutu expense reaches $15.2M
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. spent $3.5 million last month for Super Typhoon Yutu, bringing its total restoration program expenses to $15.2 million within five months.
According to CUC’s updated report, its total expenses for Yutu in February amounted to $3,450,834, which is the lowest since last November, when expenses reached $3,576,255.
As of last week, CUC reported that since Yutu’s devastation in October 2018, they have energized or provided power to 97 percent of their overall customers on Saipan and 87 percent on Tinian.
Acting chief financial officer Corina Magofna presented the report during last week’s CUC board meeting.
The highest expense was last January, when CUC incurred $4,299,298 in costs. Last December, total expenses was at $3,847,792.
October’s total expense was only $18,957.
Total expenses since October have already reached $15,193,135. Yutu hit the CNMI on Oct. 24 and 25.
The bulk of the $15.2 million expense went to Guam Power Authority ($6.4 million), for labor ($4.6 million), and for rental of equipment ($1.7 million).
CUC executive director Gary P. Camacho disclosed in December that over 280 utility personnel, including off-island volunteers, were involved in the restoration program on Saipan and Tinian.
GPA reportedly sent 41 power experts.
Last week, Camacho told the board that the Guam Power Authority personnel and Pohnpei crews have already left the CNMI and returned to their respective islands.
Camacho said this leaves their contractor, Primary Source Electric, to do primarily mitigation work and some restoration work.
He said CUC is doing the restoration work and at their Power Division’s request, their contractor, JJ Global, will continue for an additional month to assist with restoration efforts.
Expenses for JJ Global totaled $75,000 and $240,000 last January and February, respectively.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reimbursing all of CUC’s typhoon-related expenses.
Magofna said that, of the $15.2-million expense, FEMA has already reimbursed $11.1 million, leaving a $4.1-million balance as of March 2.
Magofna also disclosed that CUC’s submission for the reimbursement of $3.4 million for Super Typhoon Soudelor’s expenses is still with FEMA.
