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7 <br /> TESTIMONY <br /> TO: Hawaii County Charter Commission <br /> FROM: PUNA COMMUNITY COUNCIL <br /> RE: Addition of Language in Charter to allow creation of a municipal <br /> utility district <br /> The Puna Community Council will be testifying in November against the <br /> proposed rate increases in utility costs on the Big Island. The Council <br /> feels that there should be separate entities for utility management on each <br /> island to prevent HEI acquisition and development financed by consumers which <br /> results in rate increases. <br /> Puna Community Council presents the following proposal which would <br /> facilitate the creation of a consumer-based utility entity with locally <br /> generated policies. Rate setting would remain with the Public Utility Commission. <br /> PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT' <br /> It is our understanding that the creation of an Energy Commission <br /> may be accomplished on the State level. If this is the case, Hawaii County <br /> would already have a framework to support that effort. <br /> If the Charter Review Commission is not ready at this tine to accept <br /> the suggestion of an Energy Department, language which would accommodate <br /> but not require creation of an entity to deal with the concerns ,of energy <br /> resources could be added to the Charter so that such an entity could be <br /> created in the future. <br /> Submitted by Ron Phillips <br /> Don Jacobs <br /> Ginny Aste <br /> Richard Hahn <br /> 547 <br />