HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0813.001 1998-2000 JUL -25 -00 10:28 AM WEST HI uTILITIES /WDC 808 826 8'E P.02
• •
WEST HAWAII UTILITIES
July 25, 2000
0.0 961 -89l
County Council
County of Hawai'i Recta/
Hawaii County Building
25 Au uni Street 72. s�o
Hilo, l-lawaii 96720 /0's74/1/4/
RE: West Hawaii Utilities Testimony on HI County Bill 276
Chairman Chung and Members of the Finance Committee:
This testimony is written on behalf of West Hawaii Utilities (Wi U), WHU
is comprised of three companies; West Hawaii Water Compete ` est Hawaii
Sewer Company and West Hawaii Utility Company. These ;:'u, ties provide
water, sewer, and sewage treatment utilities to the Waikolc' `Village and
Waikoloa Resort area customers.
We have reviewed the written draft of Diane Yokota's testimor GTE and
Warren Lee's testimony for HELCO regarding Bill 276 and = ; ' with their
testimony. We recommend the County pursue its litigation wit,.. . State over
the sharing of PSC tax revenues without passage of Bill 276. .i5age of Bill
276 will impose additional burdens on WHU and our customer., even if the
monies are placed in an escrow account until the litigation v1/41:. :`i the State is
settled. Because our utilities are large electrical power users, ar customer
utility rates will be affected by both the increases in electric >.t rates due to
additional taxes imposed on HELCO and the additional taxes .rit ad directly
on our utilities, If Bill 276 is assed, it will impose signific�: • -•: gardens on
W HU arid it's ratepayers, including:
o An estimated utility rate increase of about S155,000 per ear. t including
increases due to HELCO's rate increases associated with 'Ell: 7 .
o
PUC filing for increased rates
o Subsequent PUC filing to decrease rates, if the County is :5-•:_:sful m its
litigation with the State
These costs will be paid for by our customers through higher viiaLer and sewer
rates. We believe that the most efficient way to deal with this situation is for
the County to settle this with the State, in or out of court, wit'trutt subjecting
- the utility companies to double taxation and burdening the ..-istomers to
increased rates. Thank you for the opportunity to offer tes nny on this
matter.
Sincerely, Comm. No. (� Tf p
(3t00 M
File No.
—l� RrrN�
Robert S. Spetich, P.E. --� Ref. To: Presented _ F(r
General Manager Ref. Date JUL 2 5 2000
150 WaikoloalBeach Drive o Waikoloa, Hawaii 96738 o Phone (808) 886 -100` (808) 886 -8565