American Samoa Power Authority

[1] Governor Peter T. Coleman issued an emergency executive order on October 1, 1981, which established the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA).

ASPA hired a new director, Jim Carrier, who urged the immediate purchase of two large diesel engines to solve the immediate problem.

The new management in 1986 sought financial assistance from several sources and received loans from the Rural Electric Authority and the Retirement Fund.

By the year 2000, ASPA was in control of all power distribution and generation, water systems, wastewater, and solid waste disposal.

Under the bill, the ASPA would be dissolved and its assets and operations would be transferred to a new proposed American Samoa Utility Department overseen by the Executive Branch.