The Guam Power Authority (GPA) is moving closer to a major transition in how it generates electricity, with the aging Cabras units scheduled to shut down by March 2026.
GPA General Manager John Benaventre told the Consolidated Commission on Utilities this week that the utility will burn off its remaining heavy fuel oil inventory by February. The closure of Cabras Units 1 and 2 is required under a federal consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will clear the way for the new Ukudu power plant.
Benavente also confirmed an outage at Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) earlier this week, which temporarily affected parts of the facility. Engineers said the incident was linked to a combination of lightning strikes and insulation failure, which disrupted power on the third and fourth floors. The hospital’s backup generators switched on, and GPA is coordinating with GMH staff to determine whether the fault originated from GPA’s lines or within the hospital’s own systems.
Financial pressures were also highlighted at the meeting. Benavente reported that government agencies owe nearly $59 million in overdue power bills, with GMH and the Guam Department of Education among the largest delinquent accounts. GPA is working with the Department of Administration to develop payment plans in order to stabilize cash flow and avoid further financial strain.
The Ukudu plant is currently in its commissioning phase, following repairs to the turbine rotor that was shipped off-island earlier this year. Full operations are expected in 2026.
