TITLE 4: ECONOMIC RESOURCES
DIVISION 8: UTILITIES
§ 8146. Electric Charges and Rates. Notwithstanding any law or regulation to the contrary, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation shall establish the following residential electric charges and rates: Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Schedule of Electric Charges and Rates Customer Monthly Electric Electric Total Rates Classification Customer Non-fuel Fuel Per kWh Charges Rates Rates RESIDENTIAL $3.50 First 1000 kWh $0.00 $0.176 $0.176 Over 1000 kWh $0.044 $0.176 $0.220 The electric charges and rates in this section shall supersede and replace the residential rates established by the Amendments to Part 24 of the Electric Service Regulations of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation as set forth in 28 Com. Reg. 26156 et seq. (Sept. 27, 2006), which became effective on October 27, 2006; provided that the electric fue1 rates may fluctuate depending on the actual cost of fuel. Any proposed change to the electric charges and rates by the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation or any privately-owned or operated public utility shall be reviewed and approved by the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission before promulgation. Source: PL 15-94 § 2; suspended until December 31, 2008 by PL 16-2 § 2. Commission Comment: The Commission changed “9, 26156” to “26156” to correct a manifest error pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(g). PL 15-94 became law by override on October 4, 2007. In addition to amendments to this code, PL 1594 contained severability and savings clause provisions and the following: Findings. The Legislature finds that the present schedule of electric charges and rates are exorbitant. Many of our residents earn wages below the United States poverty level and cannot afford to pay their increased power bills. Many residents, especially the indigent and the elderly, have been subjected to disconnection of electric service in their homes because they are unable to pay their power bills as well as other monthly costs and expenses. The Legislature finds that because electricity is such an essential part of life, the exorbitant electric rates have proven to be detrimental, and may eventually be disastrous to the CNMI community and economy as unemployment rates spike up and residents are displaced because they can no longer afford to live in our islands. Accordingly, the purpose of this legislation is to establish reasonable residential electric charges and rates for the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation. PL 16-2, which took effect on May 3, 2008, suspended this section until December 31, 2008. See comment to 4 CMC § 8143 for more information about PL 16-2.