Will the age-old problem of high power and water continue to plague ratepayers in this new year?

Elected Consolidated Commission on Utilities Commissioner Simon Sanchez told KUAM that the plan to raise power rates will be made by the Guam Public Utilities Commission at the end of the month.

We caught up with him at today's 11th Guam CCU oath of office ceremony.

He said he hopes the PUC will consider the recommendation for no change, considering the drop in fuel costs.

For soaring power rates, Sanchez adding the new generator set to be completed in the next 18 months is another fix.

On the plus side, Sanchez said the solution to keep water rates low comes down to fixing the water and wastewater distribution systems to prevent water loss, which he said will ultimately reduce costs and protect Guam's aquifer.

"That, over time, is gonna actually help rates stay down. So, the people of Guam have been wonderful--- particularly with GWA, as they made the sacrifice," he said. "The rates are higher today for GWA than they were 20 years ago, but we're not sending raw sewage into the ocean anymore, and we're really protecting that aquifer, and we comply with all federal and local laws, and we weren't there 20 years ago, and that's the price of progress."

Also announced today - Joseph Duenas will continue serving as CCUchair, Francis Santos as the vice chair, and Pedro Martinez as secretary.