Tinian leaders press utilities on power restoration as CUC outlines 2–8 week window for temporary generator

The Tinian and Negiguan Legislative Delegation pressed Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) officials on Thursday for a clearer timetable and more manpower to restore electricity on Tinian after Super Typhoon Zinloku.

Executive Director Watson told the delegation CUC is assessing damage at the power plant and across distribution lines and has requested temporary generation from vendors. "It could be as a matter of a few weeks or as long as 6 to 8 weeks," Watson said, describing vendor proposals and the time needed for delivery, installation and commissioning.

Watson and CUC staff described active efforts to dry water-damaged engines and control panels, repair the plant roof and walls starting next week, and preserve any transformers that test as reusable. Watson said mechanics and contracted crews are on the ground and CUC is working with FEMA, the Army Corps and APPA to identify vendors and transport options. CUC is also seeking bucket trucks and an auger truck, and has requested technical assistance from GPA and other utilities to speed repairs.

Senator Frank Q. Cruz asked whether the generators on Tinian are modern or obsolete and how that affects the availability of parts; CUC said many units are older and parts are difficult to source, which has driven the push for leased or vendor-provided temporary units. CUC reported it had deployed five linemen to Tinian and that GPA supplied an assessment team and later provided roughly 49 personnel and eight bucket trucks to Saipan, some of which have been mobilized to assist Tinian.

Mayor Odon pressed for clearer coordination and faster action, asking where a reported 1.8-megawatt generator that arrived by hovercraft was allocated and urging CUC and federal partners to prioritize critical facilities. "We need the generators here," the mayor said, adding he was frustrated by assessment delays and inconsistent notification to municipal authorities.

On procurement, CUC said vendor selection and contract terms are being negotiated with FEMA; CUC noted it must follow procurement rules even in the emergency and referred some private offers back to federal procurement channels. CUC also said it was soliciting inventories through APPA to identify available transformers, poles and larger units staged in other locations such as Guam or Japan.

CUC provided a material timeline: roughly 50 wooden poles on Tinian are being replaced with concrete poles as mitigation funds allow, and an initial stock of transformers may ship on a 2–4 week cadence with further shipments every two weeks thereafter. CUC told legislators it expects to have the critical materials required for restoration within the 90-day emergency period but that lead times and shipping schedules could affect the pace.

CUC committed to issuing public-safety guidance for household generator use; Senator Cruz requested the safety information be widely distributed and CUC said the advisory will be sent to media and public channels.

Chair concluding the briefing summarized the main points: a temporary generator procurement window ranging from about two weeks in expedited cases to six–eight weeks in the vendor timeline, ongoing roof and engine repairs, and continued coordination with FEMA, GPA and APPA. He asked CUC and partners to provide regular follow-up updates and scheduled another check-in to monitor progress.

The meeting ended with no formal votes; legislators asked for continued daily/regular situational updates until power is restored.