HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-22 Minutes of Public Hearing on the Porposed New Cost of Power Adjustment ClauseMINUTES
WATER BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON THE
PROPOSED NEW COST OF POWER ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE
February 22, 2022
Via Zoom/Host Location: Department of Water Supply, 345 Kekuana6`a Street, Suite 20, Hilo, HI
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. David De Luz, Jr., Chairperson
Mr. Steven Hirakami, Vice -Chairperson
Mr. Michael Bell
Ms. Kea Keolanui
Ms. Julie Hugo (9:46 a.m.)
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto, Manager -Chief Engineer, Department of Water Supply
(ex-officio member)
OTHERS PRESENT: Mr. J. S. Yoshimoto, Assistant Corporation Counsel
Department of Water Supply Staff
Mr. Kawika Uyehara, Deputy
Ms. Candace Gray, Waterworks Controller
Mr. Kurt Inaba, Engineering Division Head
Mr. William O'Neil, Water Service District Supervisor II
Mr. Warren Ching, Energy Management Analyst
(Chairperson De Luz called the Public Hearing to order at 9: 45 a.m.)
CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ: 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 David De Luz, 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?
SECRETARY: Okay, Mr. Bell?
M. BELL: Present.
SECRETARY: Mr. Hirakami?
S. HIRAKAMI: Present.
SECRETARY: Ms. Hugo? I don't see Ms. Hugo. Ms. Keolanui?
K. KEOLANUL• Present.
SECRETARY: Mr. Ney? Not yet. And Chairperson De Luz?
CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ: Present.
SECRETARY: Okay, we have four in attendance and three absent.
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CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ: And, Secretary, I believe Commissioner Hugo just signed on.
SECRETARY: Thank you. So noted.
CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ: Thank you. Notice of this public hearing was published in the Hawaii
Tribune -Herald and in the West Hawaii Today on February 1, 2022. 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 decreasing the Power Cost
Charge from $2.15 to $2.02 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 three minutes
because of the time limit. The hearing now is open for comments from the floor.
Secretary, Doreen, is there anyone registered to provide oral testimony or is there
any written testimony?
SECRETARY: No, Mr. Chair.
CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ: If none, at this time, I would like to entertain a motion that this public hearing be
closed.
K. KEOLANUI: I make a motion to close the public hearing.
S. HIRAKAMI: I second.
CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ: It has been moved and seconded that the public hearing is closed. All those in
favor say aye? (Secretary took roll call)
SECRETARY: Mr. Bell?
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M. BELL:
Aye.
SECRETARY:
Mr. Hirakami?
S. HIRAKAML•
Aye.
SECRETARY:
Ms. Hugo?
J. HUGO:
Aye.
SECRETARY:
Ms. Keolanui?
K. KEOLANUI:
Aye.
SECRETARY:
And Chairperson De Luz?
CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ:
Aye.
SECRETARY:
Okay, motion is carried with five ayes and two absent.
CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ:
Thank you. This concludes the public hearing portion of the proposed new cost of
power adjustment clause and we'll see all of you at our next ... at our Board Meeting
at ten o'clock.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 9: SO a.m.)
Recording Secretary
APPROVED BY WATER BOARD
MARCH 22, 2022
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