NMI power restoration continues, CUC receives shipment of infrastructure materials
BY KATIE AIZON
Journal Staff
Photo courtesy of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation.
CAPITOL HILL, Saipan – As some residents throughout the Northern Mariana Islands three months post Super Typhoon Sinlaku and two weeks post Super Typhoon Bavi remain without power, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. shared that new materials have been received to aid in restoration throughout the NMI.
The materials, including wooden power poles, concrete power poles, and transformers received on July 22 will help CUC to repair critical infrastructure as damaged or unavailable transformers, conductors, secondary lines, distribution system equipment, and specialized materials delay restoration for customers without power.
On Saipan, many customers in the villages of Kagman, Capitol Hill, Gualo Rai, Chinatown, Tanapag, and As Matuis can expect to continue to experience longer restoration as CUC works on repairs throughout the heavily damaged areas.
CUC crews on Saipan have been deployed to the following areas:
- Feeder 4 Laterals: Tapochao Rd, Talofofo Rd.
- Feeder 7 Laterals: Achugao, As Matuis
- Kiya 1 Laterals: Airport Rd., Sand Filtration, A-13 Lift Station
- Kiya 4 Laterals: Sunset Dr., Luughal Dr.
On Tinian, power has been restored to 923 customers, including 663 residential customers, 191 commercial customers, and 69 government customers as of July 17 with others pending power restorations due to pending infrastructure repairs.
On Rota, CUC crews continue to make progress in restoring the island’s electrical system around the Rota Health Center to get the facility energized. CUC reminds customers connected to generators or solar power systems to turn off their circuit breaker to protect CUC line crews, customers, and the electrical system as they conduct repairs and perform installations.
Customers should also keep household meters accessible and not place storm debris, vegetation, construction materials, or other items over or around the meters.
Furthermore, CUC advises customers if CUC equipment including utility poles, conductors, transformers, meters, or other electrical equipment is found or observed to refrain from moving or handling the equipment. Customers should contact CUC’s 24-Hour Call Center at (670) 664-4282.
In Guam, the Guam Power Authority stated that 99% of islandwide power had been restored as of July 15. However, customers have reported loadshedding in certain areas which crews are responding to as they occur. According to GPA, streetlight repairs and other power quality concerns are to be addressed in Phase IV of power restoration post Super Typhoon Bavi. mbj
As part of ongoing Super Typhoon Sinlaku and Super Typhoon Bavi relief efforts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is constructing 18 modular classrooms and two restrooms at the Northern Marianas College.
Regional leaders, government officials, and industry executives gathered at the Guam International Airport Authority on Wednesday, July 22 for the inaugural session of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Working Group, driving a unified regional effort to expand the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program to include the Philippines.
GTA contributed to relief efforts in support of the Mayor’s Council of Guam, donating 60 cases of water and gas cards for fuel to aid Rota’s ongoing recovery.
A regional tropical cyclone formation alert has been issued as a developing weather disturbance northwest of Yap threatens to strengthen the seasonal monsoon across western Micronesia and the Mariana Islands.
