HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-24 Minutes of Public Hearing of Power Cost ChargeMINUTES
WATER BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON THE POWER COST CHARGE
COUNTY OF HAWAII, DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
November 24, 2020
Via WebEx/Host Location: Department of Water Supply, 345 Kekuana6`a Street, Suite 20, Hilo, HI
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. William Boswell, Jr., Chairperson
Mr. Eric Scicchitano, Vice -Chairperson
Mr. Nestorio Domingo
Ms. Judy Howard
Ms. Julie Hugo
Mr. Zendo Kern
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto, Manager -Chief Engineer, Department of Water
Supply (ex -officio member)
ABSENT: Mr. David De Luz, Jr., Water Board Member
Mr. Benjamin Ney, Water Board Member
Mr. Kenneth Sugai, 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. Kurt Inaba, Engineering Division Head
Mr. Richard Sumada, Waterworks Controller
Ms. Candace Gray, Assistant Waterworks Controller
Ms. Judith Hayducsko, Chief of Operations
Mr. Warren Ching, Energy Management Analyst
(Chairperson Boswell called the Public Hearing to order at 9:16 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. I am William
Boswell, Jr., Chairperson of the Water Board, and I'd like to have the
Secretary take a roll call of who is in attendance from the Board.
Secretary: Secretary took a roll call. In attendance were six Board Members:
Mr. Domingo, Ms. Howard, Ms. Hugo, Mr. Kern, Mr. Scicchitano, and
Chairperson Boswell.
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Chairperson Boswell: The notice of this public hearing was published in the Hawaii Tribune
Herald and in the West Hawaii Today on November 3, 2020. The
Department of Water Supply is operated and controlled by this Water Board
as provided by the Hawaii County Charter. Section 63 of Part HI,
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 decreasing the
Power Cost Charge from $2.01 to $1.71 per thousand gallons to reflect the
decrease 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.
Chairperson Boswell: At this time, I would like to entertain a motion that this public hearing
be closed.
Ms. Hugo: So move.
Mr. Domingo: Second.
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Chairperson Boswell: It has been moved and seconded that the public hearing is closed.
Secretary: Roll call was taken on the Motion to close the public hearing. Motion was
carried by Ayes: 6 - Mr. Domingo, Ms. Howard, Ms. Hugo, Mr. Kern,
Mr. Scicchitano, and Chairperson Boswell; Nays: 0; Absent: 3 —
Mr. De Luz, Jr., Mr. Ney, and Mr. Sugai.
Chairperson Boswell: The public hearing is closed. Thank you.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 9:20 a.m.)
Recording Secretary
(Approved by Water Board 12/22/20)
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