Power bill subsidies will continue

You can expect the $100-a-month power bill subsidies to continue. Two very similar bills to fund a five-month extension were discussed at a public hearing Wednesday, and will almost certainly hit the session floor this month.

One way or another the government assistance to help pay for soaring power bills is expected to continue. Speaker Therese Terlaje and appropriations chairman Joe San Agustin have both introduced measures to do so. GPA says it welcomes it, but takes no stance on how to fund it.

Assistant general manager Tricee Limtiaco said, "The Guam Power Authority supports the program’s extension and respectfully defers to I Lehislaturan Guahan to determine the appropriate source of funding."

Speaker Terlaje’s bill appropriates $26 million from Fiscal Year 2022 excess revenues over projections - while Senator San Agustin’s measure authorizes the governor to find the money from any funding source available under her discretion.

"I can work with the speaker on how we can merge the bills or which bill will be withdrawn, because its all about the people. Its not about any individual," he shared.

GPA blames the high cost of power on the unprecedented increase in global fuel oil prices.

"The $100 monthly credit has helped ratepayers make ends meet and otherwise offset the economic impact from inflation," said Limtiaco.

Meanwhile, the Consolidated Commission on Utilities just approved GPA's plan to ask the Public Utilities Commission to continue with the current fuel surcharge rate for another six months, as it tries to bring down its massive fuel cost under-recovery.