The American Samoan Power Authority (ASPA) has proposed a budget for $113.2 million for Fiscal Year 2026, up from $107.5 million in the current fiscal year.
The number of employees increases from 439 to 444, with 19 are contract employees and the remainder local hires.
According to the budget breakdown: $17.2 million goes to personnel services, $46.9 million for Materials and Supplies, $34,072,5000 for Contractual Services, $409,500 is allocated for Travel, $2.2 million for Equipment, and $12.2 million under the “All Others” category.
Testifying on ASPA’s budget before the joint legislative budget hearings were ASPA CEO Wallon Young and Customer Service Manager Ryan Tuatoo.
ASPA’s account receivables total $11 million of which $2.5 million is debt owed by the American Samoan Government (ASG). According to Young the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) is six months behind on its utility bill, and LBJ Hospital is 2-3 months in unpaid bills.
Young explained that due to a drop in collections, some locally funded projects have been delayed.
Regarding streetlights, he reported that 1,000 new streetlights are scheduled to arrive next month.
Asked about efforts by ASPA to replace off-island engineers with locals, the CEO said that this is the purpose of its apprenticeship program which is sending trainees to New Zealand for training. He said ASPA had discontinued the apprenticeship program in the past, contributing to the current shortage of local engineers.
Questions were asked about savings from alternative energy projects, such as the solar projects in Manu’a.
According to Young, the customer base in Manu’a is small, so there has not been much impact on savings. However, he expects a significant drop in power rates once the 20-megawatt solar project on Tutuila comes online at the end of the year.
Rep. Sauasetoa Ho Ching asked the CEO if it was true that the cost of the wind farm project would double in price. This was part of the CEO’s response.
Play Audio: wallon-wind-farm
The CEO explained that ASPA carried out a job evaluation in early 2025 and, as a result of that study, the authority has carried out a $2.6 million salary increase for rank and file employees. No managers or engineers just rank and file. He said apprentices start at $9 an hour, while the starting salary of carpenters and welders is $11 an hour.
Young told the hearing that ASPA has passed all tests for the microfiltration plant at Malaeimi, however, because of the USEPA’s process, the boil water notice has still not been lifted. But he said as far as ASPA is concerned the water is safe to drink. However, USEPA must give its stamp of approval before the Boil Water Notice is lifted.
