by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Guam Waterworks Authority has filed suit in the Superior Court to appeal a Public Utilities Commission order. The utility is seeking clarity on two specific issues: whether the PUC failed to follow its own regulations when it ordered GWA to pay $20 million in violation of existing bond covenants and whether Public Law 30-145 is inorganic.

The law requires GWA to reimburse that amount to the general fund but Consolidated Commission on Utilities chair Simon Sanchez says the agency doesn't believe the borrowing is good policy or necessary. "We think it's a bad idea but if you wish still for GWA to borrow money the only legal way to do is is Bill 222. Bill 30-145 we believe is an illegal way to borrow the money and use the proceeds and that's before the court," he said.

Sanchez says the savings in debt service from the bonds that will be paid off before the end of the year will be ten million annually - enough in two years, to come up with the money lawmakers want without raising rates.