SAIPAN — At 9:09 Friday morning, power began flowing again through Rota’s Feeder 2. CUC crews successfully energized the feeder’s primary lines from the Power Plant to the Sonton area, the utility announced, restoring the island’s main power corridor 33 days after Super Typhoon Bavi’s July 6 direct hit.
Crews are now gradually restoring power to customers by carefully adding load to the system while continuing to monitor grid stability, meaning homes and businesses along the feeder will come back online progressively rather than all at once.
The energization came at the front end of the 9 to 10 a.m. window CUC announced Thursday, after storms forced the postponement of the first attempt Wednesday. The utility’s Thursday notice had described an anticipated energization area running from the power plant to Sonton and from As Paris to the Post Office; Friday’s announcement addressed the Power Plant to Sonton stretch.
CUC coupled the milestone with a safety instruction for customers connected to the grid: ensure your home’s electrical system has not sustained storm-related damage before using electricity. Anyone who notices damaged wiring, outlets or electrical equipment should not attempt to restore power themselves and should contact a certified or licensed electrician to make repairs.
The utility thanked the Rota community for its continued patience and cooperation as crews work to safely restore power across the island. The energization marks the biggest single step yet in a recovery week that has also opened FEMA Individual Assistance, SBA disaster loans and Medicaid disaster flexibilities to Rota residents, with 45 STRONG tents installed for displaced families as emergency shelters begin winding down.
