19 Jul 2012

CNMI's power company emergency declaration renewed

10:14 am on 19 July 2012

The Northern Marianas Government has extended an emergency declaration at the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation for another 30 days.

The Acting Governor, Eloy Inos, says the utility company's continued cash flow problems, the lack of workers with technical training, the crisis over renewable energy and disarray on the board prompted the extension.

The state of emergency effectively suspends regulations and allows the government to reprogramme spending to address the cash, procurement, and hiring issues at the utility.

The corporation was first placed under emergency status in mid 2008; that was lifted in March last year, only to be re-imposed in May this year.

The CNMI government also has the NMI Retirement Fund and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation under the same emergency declarations.