HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-28 Minutes of Public Hearing of Power Cost ChargeMINUTES
WATER BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON THE POWER COST CHARGE
COUNTY OF HAWAII, DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
July 28, 2020
Via WebEx/Host Location: Department of Water Supply, 345 Kekuanao`a Street, Suite 20, Hilo, HI
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr.
William Boswell, Jr., Chairperson
Mr.
Eric Scicchitano, Vice -Chairperson
Mr.
Nestorio Domingo
Mr.
Zendo Kern
Mr.
Kenneth Sugai
Ms.
Judy Howard
Mr. David De Luz, Jr.
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto, Manager -Chief Engineer, Department of Water
Supply (ex -officio member)
ABSENT: Ms. Julie Hugo, Water Board Member
Mr. Benjamin Ney, Water Board Member
Director, Planning Department (ex -officio member)
Director, Department of Public Works (ex -officio member)
OTHERS PRESENT: Ms. Diana Mellon -Lacey, Deputy Corporation Counsel
DEPARTMENT OF
WATER SUPPLY STAFF: Mr. Kawika Uyehara, Deputy
Mr. Warren Ching, Energy Management Analyst
Mr. Kurt Inaba, Engineering Division Head
Mr. Richard Sumada, Waterworks Controller
Ms. Judith Hayducsko, Chief of Operations (Temporary Assignment)
Mr. Clyde Young, Operations Division
Mr. Eric Takamoto, Operations Division
(Chairperson Boswell called the Public Hearing to order at 9:45 a. m)
Chairperson Boswell: Good morning. Will the public hearing of the Water Board on the proposed
new cost of Power Adjustment Clause please come to order. The notice of
this public hearing was published in the Hawaii Tribune Herald and West
Hawaii Today on July 5, 2020. Good morning, my name is William
Boswell, Chairperson of the Water Board; and will members of the Board
please introduce yourselves.
Board Members: Vice -Chair Scicchitano, Judy Howard.
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Manager -Chief Engineer: I think it would be easier if Doreen just do a roll call.
Secretary: Okay, I have William Boswell, Jr., is present, Vice -Chairperson Eric
Scicchitano; and Members David De Luz, Jr., Nestorio Domingo, Judy
Howard, Zendo Kern, and Kenneth Sugai. I do not see Benjamin Ney
online; and the ninth Board Member, Julie Hugo, is absent today.
Chairperson Boswell: Okay. The Department of Water Supply is operated and controlled by this
Water Board as provided by the Hawaii County Charter. Section 63 of
Part III, Chapter 54, Hawaii Revised Statutes, reads as follows:
"The Board of Water Supply may fix and adjust rates and charges for the
furnishing of water and for water services so that the revenues derived
therefrom shall be sufficient to make the waterworks and water systems
self-supporting and to meet all expenditures authorized by this part; the
Board may establish variable rates among the several districts of the
County, or among the areas served by the individual water systems within
the County, for the purpose of establishing charges as closely as possible to
the necessary amount required for the maintenance and operation of the
particular individual water systems; provided no rates and charges shall be
fixed or adjusted prior to the holding by the Board of a public hearing,
public notice of which shall have been given not less than twenty days
before the date set for the hearing. The notice shall state the time and place
for the hearing and the proposed rates and charges to be considered
thereat. The time within which the notice shall be given shall be computed
by including the first day (the day of notice) and excluding the last day."
We are here to receive comments or testimony on the proposed amendment
to the Power Cost Charge. The Department recommends increasing the
Power Cost Charge from $1.90 to $2.01 per thousand gallons to reflect the
increase in power costs.
As stated in the hearing notice, all comments or testimony were to be filed
in writing before the time of the hearing or register to have testimony
included via web conference application. We would like to follow this
format as closely as possible; however, because there may be some of you
who do not have any written statements but would like to testify or
comment, we would like to afford you this opportunity to do so but would
like to limit such presentations to five minutes because of the time limit.
The hearing is now open for comments from the floor. Doreen, is there
anyone registered to provide oral testimony?
Secretary: No, Mr. Chair.
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Chairperson Boswell: There being none, I would like to entertain a motion that this public hearing
be closed.
Mr. Scicchitano: So move.
Mr. Sugai: Second.
Chairperson Boswell: It has been moved and seconded that the public hearing is closed. All those
in favor say "aye."
Board Members: Unanimous ayes.
Chairperson Boswell: Opposed? (none) Motion is carried. Thank you.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 9:50 a.m)
Recording Secretary
APPROVED BY WATER BOARD
AUGUST 25, 2020
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