Outstanding power bills in arrears for more than 61 days for the Guam Department of Education and Guam Memorial Hospital are forcing the Consolidated Commission on Utilities to consider cutting power. At the eleventh hour GDOE made a partial payment, but their balance still remains at more than $2 million.

The CCU is ‘very concerned’ about both agencies' inability to pay their power bills on time. CCU chairman Francis Santos asked Guam Power Authority chief financial officer John Kim to follow up on the outstanding bills on Thursday, saying, "They have run out of money from the fund that was created for them. Santos replied, "GDOE, we have to be very concerned because I don’t know where they are going to get money. Unfortunately, they want to open schools on time so it’s going to be our problem."

GPA board books show as of April 10 GMH owes $140,834.90, while GDOE’s bill is a whopping $3,295,858.93. Both accounts are more than 61 days in arrears. 

The CCU is considered cutting power, at least for GDOE Central, if they don’t pay their bill.  Simon Sanchez with the CCU said, "I like John’s strategy. He’s never cut off the schools. But DOA sometimes doesn’t have power until we get a check. That works for me."

GPA general manager John Benavente gave them a tight deadline, noting, "We have made it known to GDOE, Mr. Chair, that if they don’t pay, we will take them off on Friday. I’m talking about the administration– central. And let them figure it out by Monday."  Sanchez affirmed, "Make sure they have a back up generator, at least to print the check" which drew laughter in response.

GDOE made a partial payment in the eleventh hour., as agency spokesperson Teresita Naputi told KUAM News that the department paid both their water and power bills on Thursday. But GPA controller Lenora Sanz told KUAM, “GDOE made a payment today in the amount of $1,217,568.61, giving them a new balance of $2,078,290.32 as of today. GMH has not made any payments since this report was produced.”

In the meantime, commissioners say they have to treat the agencies how they treat all ratepayers. Sanchez said, "Well, it’s good this is an open public meeting in which it’s being very clearly expressed by management and the elected CCU that all ratepayers will be treated the same."

"There’s no reason we should be last in the payment list," added Santos. "We should be - I don’t want to say at the top of the list - but you know, something close by. Because they do want to keep aircons in the schools and all that nice stuff, but they still have to pay the bill."

KUAM also reached out to GMH for comment and did not get an immediate response.   For the time being, GDOE officials indicated they plan to pay the rest of their balance off on Monday.