House members
say ASPA has ignored Aunu'u's power needs for far too long
by La Poasa
Samoa News Staff
Several House
members told officials of the American Samoa Power Authority
(ASPA) on Thursday that the semi-autonomous agency has been ignoring
the power needs of the people of Aunu'u for far too long.
They criticized
ASPA for not responding to written complaints from an Aunu'u
businessman that were made with ASPA since 2000 about the power
service in the island that has cost him money.
Businessman,
Manoa Fuiava, kept records of his complaint letters - a total
of eight letters - and presented them to House members and ASPA
officials at a hearing on Thursday about ASPA services to Aunu'u.
Business individuals
on the island have complained to the House ASPA Committee, chaired
by Rep. Manu Talamoa, that electricity services have not been
consistent, and frozen food items have gone bad because of it,
among other problems.
Fuiava said the
last power outage was on Feb. 28. He said power inconsistencies
have happened since 1996. He told House members that he contacted
ASPA and was transferred to the agency's customer service division,
but he has never received a written response to his complaints
that were filed with ASPA's customer service since 2000.
His last letter
was written to ASPA on March 11.
ASPA chief executive
officer (CEO) and general counsel Mike Keyser said this was first
time he has seen the complaints from Fuiava. He agreed with House
members that it shouldn't take eight letters from Fuiava before
ASPA responds to the complaints.
Keyser - who
began with ASPA in 2006 as general counsel and then late last
year as CEO - said ASPA is going to follow-up on Fuiava's letters.
While several
lawmakers asked Keyser if he'll provide compensation to Fuiava
soon to cover his business loss due to power problems in Aunu'u,
Keyser said ASPA will have to first investigate the complaints
before making a final decision.
Keyser told Fuiava
that in the future, if he does not get a timely respond from
ASPA's customer service about his complaints, then he should
come see him.
ASPA chief operating
officer (COO) Reno Vivao said power problems began for Aunu'u
when a submarine cable that enabled ASPA to provide electricity
services to the island went down. He explained that ASPA then
installed generators on the island. He said one generator was
installed near Aunu'u Elementary School, however, there were
complaints about the noise and fumes that pose a health hazard
to school children.
Vivao said ASPA
then sought another parcel of land to install their generators,
which they found near the cricket field on the island. He said
the site is for temporary use as ASPA continues to locate land
for a permanent power plant in Aunu'u.
He said there
was a land that was identified as a permanent location, however,
there is a dispute between families over this land.
The ASPA chief
operations officer noted that ASPA must meet government regulations,
such as those enforced by the American Samoa Environmental Protection
Agency (ASEPA) regarding environmental issues.
Vivao said ASPA
currently has three operating generators servicing Aunu'u. The
one that is near the school operates at a time when school is
out and when it is off, the generators situated near the cricket
field on the island then goes on.
He said ASPA
wants to have all the generators operating at the same time in
order to provide full electricity services to Aunu'u, but ASPA
is still looking for a permanent location.
Regarding the
submarine cable, Vivao said ASPA is in discussions with a company
in Australia in an attempt to repair the cable.
Vice Speaker
Agaoleatu Charlie Tautolo, who represents Aunu'u in the House,
said the cable would solve the power problems on the island.
He said this
is a problem that has been going on for far too long. He said
the residents of Aunu'u are not getting quality service that
they are paying for.
Reach the
reporter at la@samoanews.com.
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