Guam Power Authority urged to pause fuel surcharge hike

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

Vice Speaker Tony Ada is seeking the suspension of the fuel surcharge increase to ease the financial stress on several Guam households amid the island's recovery from Typhoon Bavi, which hit the Marianas region Monday.

“This is a time to look carefully at what is possible,” Ada said. “If we can help families get through this difficult period in a responsible way, then it is a conversation worth having," Ada said.

The fuel surcharge, otherwise known a levelized energy adjustment clause, increased from $0.135840 per kilowatt-hour to $0.194150 per kilowatt-hour affecrtive July 1.

Tony Ada

For an average residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month, the approved adjustment will result in an estimated increase of approximately $58 per month.

“I understand GPA has serious financial responsibilities, and this request does not ignore those realities,” Ada said. “But families are also carrying real costs right now. If there is a fair and responsible way to ease that burden, it deserves careful review.”

Ada said the goal is to start a constructive conversation about exploring options for temporary relief while Guam continues to recover from Super Typhoon Bavi and the lingering impacts of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

Ada acknowledged that the LEAC helps recover fuel costs needed to operate Guam’s electric system.

He said his request is not to eliminate the adjustment, but to ask GPA, the CCU and, if needed, the Guam Public Utilities Commission to consider whether short-term relief is possible during this recovery period.

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On the third day of recovery, GPA has restored 66 percent of its system load and energized 73 percent of its circuits.

Based on GPA's latest update, total generation system capacity for today is 275 MW, which is adequate for the current load of 140 MW.

GPA said line crews are continuing restoration work on distribution lines in villages with minimal damage, while the generation teams address generators for water wells and wastewater service and transition to island power.

"As power lines heat up, weak points of the system will be apparent (e.g., storm-damaged transformers, fuse cutouts, lightning arresters, connections)," GPA said.

Ada acknowledged that GPA’s line crews, engineers, dispatchers, customer service representatives and support teams have worked long hours under difficult conditions.

“Many were also dealing with damage to their own homes and families. Their service deserves our gratitude and respect," he said.

GPA advised customers that during this stage of recovery, some energized feeders may still leave pockets of isolated customers with extensive damages.

"GPA will return to restore service to those remaining customers immediately after all other feeders without faults are restored," GPA said.

In the second phase of the post-typhoon recovery, GPA crews are addressing north, central and south sectors to restore as many customers (with minimal damages) as possible per feeder. Those with significant damages will be addressed in Phase III.

Areas of focus over the next one to three days include portions of the following:

North

• P-089, Dededo: Route 1 southbound from Wusstig Rd. to Battulo St., including GHURA 505, Paradise

Estates, Guam International Country Club, and surrounding areas.

P-089, Yigo: Route 1 southbound from old Ace Hardware to Wusstig Rd. and surrounding areas.

• P-204, Tamuning: Chalan San Antonio towards Guam Premium Outlets and surrounding areas.

*Ongoing work in progress on P-204

• P-271, Dededo: A portion of Harmon Loop Rd and surrounding areas.

P-271, Tamuning: Route 1 northbound towards Dos Amantes Plaza, Sgambelluri St., Adrian Sanchez

St./Hamburger Road and surrounding areas.

*Ongoing work in progress on P-271

• P-312, Tamuning: Route 1 northbound from Triple J to JFK HS; Route 10A from 76 station to Home

Depot; Talo Verde and surrounding areas.

• P-206/P-313, Tamuning: Route 1 northbound former Hafa Adai Exchange to Don Don Donki village to

airport road and surrounding areas.

• P-330, Yigo: Along Route 1 from Mataguac intersection towards Chalan La Chanch entrance, Chalan

Kaskahu, a portion of Mataguac along Route 9 (Machanaonao, Agafa Gumas) to Potts Junction; to

include Route 1 southbound (Paradise Meadows, Chalan Koda) and surrounding areas. *Ongoing work

in progress on P-330

• P-331, Yigo: Route 1 southbound from Papaya Ln. (Songsong Hills Subdivision) towards American

Grocery to include Chalan Dokdok, Josen Diego St., Chalan Islan Guahan, Yigo Fire Station,

Dominican Catholic School, FBLG Middle School, Mataguac & surrounding areas.

Central

• P-250, Hagåtña: Hagåtña swamp to Route 4 toward Afame Rd. and surrounding areas.

P-250, Chalan Pago-Ordot: Along Route 4 from Spring Ln. to Route 10 intersection, including Dero

Rd., Maimai St., and surrounding areas.

P-250, Sinajana: Sinajana Mobil, Holiday Towers, Afame Rd., Chaot, and surrounding areas.

P-250, Mangilao: From Mangilao on to Dairy Road toward Route 10 including DOC, portion of DYA and

surrounding areas.

*Ongoing work in progress on P-250

• P-251, Hagåtña: East O’Brien Dr, Route 1 and Route 8 intersection, including Bank of Guam,

Reflection Center, Ada’s Commercial Center, Big Hook, and surrounding areas.

P-251, MTM: Route 8 from Sgt. Roy T. Damian St. exit to ET Calvo Way, JA Camacho St. from East

O’Brien Dr to Biang St., MongMong Catholic Church, CHamorro Gardens, and surrounding areas.

• P-253, MTM: Sgt. Roy T. Damian St., Biang St., west to Toto-Cañada Rd., Route 8 from Shop for Less

to Maite Mobil; including West Cesario St., Chalan Machaute, and surrounding areas.

• P-294, Mangilao: Route 10 westbound from old Public Health to Route 4 intersection. Ta’i Mangilao,

and surrounding areas.

P-294, Chalan Pago-Ordot: Route 10/Route 4 intersection, Chalan Ping Pago, Chalan Inda, Inalado

Road, Ta’i Road, Pago Bay Estates to Pago Bay Resort and surrounding areas.

*Ongoing work in progress on P-294

• P-312, Barrigada: Tiyan area along East Sunset Boulevard from Triple B Forwarders towards Landing

Road (also known as Fourth Street), West Sunset Boulevard, Lower Sunset Boulevard, Central

Avenue and surrounding areas.

South

• P-220, Sånta Rita-Sumai: Route 17 (Cross Island Rd.) up to Bishop Flores St. and surrounding

areas.

• P-221, Sånta Rita-Sumai: Sånta Rita village through Pale Ferdinand Way up towards Chalan Obispo

Olano to RR Cruz St. and surrounding areas.

• P-223, Sånta Rita-Sumai: Route 2A from Taco Bell to Route 2, including Route 5, Sumai Payless,

and surrounding areas.

P-223, Hågat: Route 2 from Route 2A intersection to Nimitz Beach, including Inn on the Bay, portion

of Route 12, Pagachao Dr., Hågat village, Umang Rd., and surrounding areas.

• P-294, Yona: Route 4 (Chalan Kanton Tasi) from Yona village towards Pago Bay, M.U. Lujan

Elementary School, St. Francis Church, portion of Pulantat towards tracking station, and surrounding

areas.

*Ongoing work in progress on P-294

• P-301, Yona: Pulantat, Chalan Teleforo; bottom of loop to Yona cliffside to Ylig and surrounding areas.

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