HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-25 Water Board Public Hearing on the Proposed New Cost of Power Adjustment ClauseMINUTES
WATER BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON THE
PROPOSED NEW COST OF POWER ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE
May 25, 2021
Via Zooin/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. Michael Bell
Mr. David De Luz, Jr.
Mr. Steven Hirakami
Ms. Judy Howard
Ms. Julie Hugo
Mr. Benjamin Ney
Mr. Kenneth Sugar
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto, Manager -Chief Engineer, Department of Water Supply
(ex -officio member)
OTHERS PRESENT: Ms. Diana Mellon -Lacey, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Department of Water Supply Staff
Mr. Kawika Uyehara, Deputy
Ms. Candace Gray, Waterworks Controller
Mr. Kurt Inaba, Engineering Division Head
Ms. Judith Hayduesko, Chief of Operations
Mr. William O'Neil, Water Service District Supervisor II
Mr. Eric Takamoto, Operations Division
Mr. Warren Ching, Energy Management Analyst
(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. I am
William Boswell, Jr., Chairperson of the Water Board; and I'd like to have the
Secretary take a roll call for who is in attendance from the Board.
(Secretary took take roll call. All Nine Board Members were in Attendance:
Mr. Bell, Mr. De Luz, Mr. Hirakami, Ms. Howard, Ms. Hugo, Mr. Ney,
Mr. Scicchitano, Mr. Sugar, and Chairperson Boswell.)
CHAIRPERSON BOSWELL: Thank you. Notice of this public hearing was published in the Hawaii
Tribune -Herald and in the West Hawar`i Today on May 4, 2021. The
Department of Water Supply is operated and controlled by this Water Board as
provided by the Hawaii County Charter. Section 63 of Part 111, 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
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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 $1.77 [corrected to $1.71— script was incorrect] to
$1.85 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 three
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 or is
there any written testimony?
SECRETARY: None, Mr. Chair.
CHAIRPERSON BOSWELL: At this time, I would like to entertain a Motion that this Public Hearing be closed.
B. NEY:
J. HOWARD:
So move, Ben.
Seconded, Judy.
CHAIRPERSON BOSWELL: Chairperson Boswell: It has been moved and seconded that the public hearing
is closed. All those in favor say aye.
SECRETARY: Roll call.
CHAIRPERSON BOSWELL: Yeah, I'm sorry. Roll Call.
(Secretary took take roll call. All Nine Board Members were in Attendance:
Mr. Bell, Mr. De Luz, Mr. Hirakami, Ms. Howard, Ms. Hugo, Mr. Ney,
Mr. Scicchitano, Mr. Sugai, and Chairperson Boswell.)
CHAIRPERSON BOSWELL: Thank you. The Power Cost Adjustment clause public hearing is now closed.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 9:50 a.m.)
Recording Secretary
APPROVED BY THE WATER BOARD
JUNE 22, 2021
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