11 Jul 2006

CNMI faces more power cuts

1:32 pm on 11 July 2006

Power outages now in effect on Saipan may soon be extended after the CNMI government advised the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation that it cannot afford to continue paying for monthly fuel deliveries.

The island's newspaper, The Saipan Tribune, quotes the acting CUC executive director Anthony C. Guerrero as saying it has begun implementing six-day rotating power outages on the island to conserve fuel until funding becomes available.

Mr Guerrero also says water supplies will be affected by the lack of fuel

Some customers will experience low pressure during power outages while others will have no water supply.

There are 130 water wells on the island and the pumping of water from the ground needs electricity.