Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Office of disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM) apparently sent out a memo to the American Samoa Democratic Party, in June 2026, regarding the Party’s public statements in April 2026 highlighting the rising cost of living in American Samoa. ODAPM characterized the statements as ‘divisive’, according to the ASDP.

ODAPM manages disaster preparedness, hazard mitigation, petroleum management, and resilience efforts for the American Samoa government.

The ASDP, in its April press release, sounded the alarm after the Monthly Average Price (MAP) of fuel jumped from $4.1857 in March to $5.5370 in April which accounts for a 32.3% increase in just one month.

It noted that this increase was already reflected at the pump, with families in American Samoa seeing gas hit $5 a gallon and higher. Additionally, increased fuel costs translate into higher prices for food, electricity, and shipping, ASDP stated.

ASDP further encouraged local leaders to explore common-sense solutions that could help provide relief to residents and small businesses, including:

• Temporary fuel tax relief measures that might help reduce prices at the pump;
• Subsidizing transportation costs to incentivize carpool or alternative transportation options;
• Increased investment in renewable energy and energy independence initiatives; and
• Greater transparency and oversight regarding fuel pricing and consumer protections.

“At a time when costs continue to rise, leadership should focus on solutions that alleviate everyday cost-of-living expenses for our families,” the ASDP Chair Patrick Ti’a Reid stated.

Then, the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) in May announced it was increasing its fuel surcharge, which was expected to substantially impact electricity bills for residents and businesses starting in May.

At the time, ASPA made it clear that the ongoing increases in fuel costs were directly contributing to the rise in prices for the fuel used in electricity generation, which in turn affects all customer categories, irrespective of their consumption levels.

According to ASPA, the fuel surcharge constitutes approximately 70 to 75% of the total cost per kilowatt-hour. It classified this surcharge as pass-through revenue, meaning that the funds collected are not retained by ASPA; instead, they are allocated directly to local fuel suppliers for the diesel fuel required to operate ASPA's five power plants located across the islands of Tutuila, Manu'a, and Aunuu.

It stated that “this system ensures a direct link between global fuel prices and local electricity rates, making it clear that prices are set by external markets.” (In other words, the rising cost of electricity was not their fault.)

ASPA strongly encouraged all customers to implement energy conservation strategies wherever feasible, i.e. to actively reduce your electricity consumption, as its solution to the rising cost of electricity.

ASDP released two press releases on June 17, 2026.

One of them acknowledged the June 2nd memo from ODAPM and clarified that the Party’s intent was to highlight the growing cost-of-living pressures in American Samoa. It rejected the memo’s characterization that raising concerns impacting our community is ‘divisive,’ affirming rather that these concerns are legitimate and necessary.

Party Chair Reid stated, “We appreciate the clarification and the work that ODAPM and other Government departments and offices continue to do. However, we can also acknowledge that our working families and households are feeling the weight of higher prices at the gas stations, on their ASPA bills, and at the grocery stores.”

“…We will continue raising issues that reflect the realities of working families across the territory,” concluded Reid.

The second press release focused on the rising cost of electricity, and the growing financial pressure it has on local families already struggling with the rising costs of food, gas, and other essentials.

The press release pointed out that according to ASPA's June billing rates, the fuel surcharge rate had “increased over the last three months, due to the Iran war and rise in global fuel prices, resulting in an increase in the ASPA kWH rate for the June 2026 bills". Since February, this translates to an approximately 48% increase in the residential system rate.

For a family that typically pays $400 per month for electricity, this increase could mean an additional $192 on their monthly bill — bringing their total monthly payment to nearly $600.

It commended efforts by ASPA to pursue renewable energy projects and again called on leaders to prioritize long-term energy solutions, strengthen investments in renewable energy, and explore measures that can provide relief to families facing rapidly increasing utility costs.

When will the cost of electricity and fuel drop?

Samoa News notes that while the U.S./ Israel- Iran conflict has reportedly ended, albeit the agreement between U.S. and Iran is shaky, and the global price of oil is falling below $100, this will not be reflected right away in fuel costs in American Samoa. Local fuel supplies were bought at a time when the conflict was happening.

So when will it happen? ODAPM only knows.