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Torres appoints 2 to CPUC
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres appointed last Friday two persons to the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission, the agency that governs all utility companies and agencies in the CNMI.
Benjamin Borja was appointed CPUC representative for Tinian, while James Diego Benavente was appointed CPUC representative for Saipan.
The CPUC is a five-member governing body that regulates the rates and services of public utilities such as electricity supply, water supply, and telecommunications in the CNMI.
Back in Aug. 17, 2018, Torres withdrew his appointment of Benavente due to the latter’s plan of pursuing an engineering license. The governor’s communication did not specify whether Benavente had already secured a license.
Borja was appointed by Torres last Friday as well. In his transmittal letter to both House Speaker Rafael Demapan (R-Saipan) and Senate President Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan), Torres said Borja is “qualified to fulfill the vital responsibilities of the [CPUC].”
While no further information was provided, the CPUC has been stagnant since the expiration of the term of its last commissioner, Dave Guerrero, last year.
In a statement from the administration last week, Torres said he is also considering the reappointment of former commissioners to the CPUC. The last members of the CPUC included former chair Joseph Guerrero, Oscar Quitugua, and James Guerrero.
The CPUC has been inactive for about a year.
