Saipan — Power has been restored to 81 percent of accounts on Saipan and 93 percent on Tinian, while Rota is still waiting for its system to be energized, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation said Monday.
Water service is back to 100 percent on all three islands.
On Saipan, 11,833 of 15,624 customer accounts were energized as of the utility’s July 31 verification. CUC said the 81 percent figure excludes roughly 6 percent of facilities that were damaged in the storms and cannot safely take electric service.
On Tinian, 985 of 1,059 accounts were energized as of July 30. Areas still waiting include the Suicide Cliff areas and customers who need weather head repairs, transformer replacements and power pole replacements.
On Rota, crews are still working at the Rota Power Plant and preparing the distribution system. One diesel generator has been repaired and repairs and testing on a second unit are progressing. CUC said crews are running final inspections, system checks and preparation work that must be finished before the system can be safely energized and power gradually restored.
In Songsong, crews are installing transformers to prepare to energize primary lines once those checks are complete. Monday’s work ran from the Rota Hotel toward Sinapalo ABS near the IT&E antenna. Two bucket trucks and an auger truck remain operational and are supporting field work.
CUC said customers with little or no water pressure should check their property for leaks and call Customer Service at 664-4282. Hidden leaks can keep water from reaching a home even after service has been restored.
