Pacific / Northern Marianas

CNMI's Saipan has power supply back to 82 percent of homes

09:23 am on 18 January 2019

Eighty-two percent of residents on the Northern Marianas island of Saipan have had their power restored nearly three months after Typhoon Yutu destroyed the local power grid.

More Saipan neighbourhoods are now lit at night after the resumption of power supplies Photo: RNZ Pacific / Mark Rabago

The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation says over 11,000 customers are now connected as opposed to over 13,000 customers prior to Yutu.

Sixty-three percent of the island of Tinian also have power now.

CUC said those still to be reconnected are awaiting materials to arrive, including 800 transformers and over 800 power poles.

In all, CUC said 93 percent of its distribution system had been restored to pre-Yutu levels.