ALJ pushes GWA to implement PUC order

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Public Utilities Commission's administrative law judge continues to push the Guam Waterworks Authority to implement an order to pay $18.3 million to the General Fund. CCU chairman Simon Sanchez says Attorney David Mair held a hearing this morning wanting GWA to provide responses to two matters: the rate analysis provided by Senator Ben Pangelinan, who has been pushing for the reimbursement and a calculation of how soon GWA would need the money back to continue court ordered projects if the $18.3 million was turned over immediately. 

GWA is fighting the PUC order saying it violates bond covenants and the public law requiring the payment is inorganic.  The utility has already said it would need to raise rates from between 3.8% to 38% depending on how fast the PUC wishes to implement the order.

The CCU is scheduled to meet this evening.