High failure rate, past due debts sticking point with streetlights

Streetlights around the island currently face two issues: the high failure rate of LED streetlights and past due debts, according to Commonwealth Utilities Corp. executive director Alan Fletcher.

Fletcher told Saipan Tribune in an email yesterday that CUC is addressing the LED light replacements with the manufacturer and hopes to find a resolution soon. The second issue on past due bills—amounting to some $1.5 million—is being pursued, he said.

The issue of streetlights was brought up by a Saipan resident on Dec. 18, at CUC’s last board meeting, regarding two streetlights in her neighborhood in Chalan Kanoa that were not working.

CUC vice chair Diego Songao also brought up what he said is a “ghost place” to describe Rota’s main streets from Songsong to Sinapalu, because it is too dark. There are about five to six streetlights in that area.

CUC chair David Sablan Jr. said he has experienced that same thing and that CUC has to address this as soon as possible for safety reasons.

According to Fletcher, CUC has a program where CUC goes around marking down streetlights that are working and those that are not.

When asked on who pays for the power consumed by streetlights, Fletcher said the Department of Public Works is one of the customers paying for streetlights and that DPW is responsible for the monthly payments.

“We do replacements but there is a physical payment issue and financial issue with the funding agency for streetlights,” Fletcher told Sablan.

Funding necessary
Fletcher said that there is no dispute with DPW and he fully agrees with DPW Secretary Martin Sablan that CUC is responsible for the maintenance of streetlights.

“As stated, CUC maintains streetlights. However, I recall that the ‘responsibility’ discussed during the last meeting related to payment for the installation of streetlights and the responsible party for monthly payments. As authorized by the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission, CUC charges a monthly fee, based on the wattage and configuration, for maintenance, upkeep, and power usage for lights. We rely on these monies to operate the system,” Fletcher said.

According to the latest data obtained, about 2,000 LED streetlights are on Saipan, 276 are on Tinian, and 516 are on Rota.

CUC chair recommends “working together”
Sablan said that CUC and DPW must work together.

“We need to get together with DPW and just go down the main road on all three main islands and map out where streetlights ought to be and where the existing ones are and check if they are functioning and mark it down for in a job order to be replaced,” Sablan said.

“Focus is mostly on secondary roads because there are mostly children there. It has nothing to do with funding. This is to get the plan ready so that money is then appropriated and then we could immediately go straight into the plan,” he added.