HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-28 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
June 28, 2022
Liquor Control Conference Room, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230, Hilo, HI
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. David De Luz, Jr., Chairperson
Mr. Steven Hirakami, Vice -Chairperson
Mr. Michael Bell
Ms. Julie Hugo
Ms. Kea Keolanui
Mr. Benjamin Ney
Mr. Kenneth Sugai
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto, Manager -Chief Engineer,
Department of Water Supply (ex-officio member)
ABSENT: Mr. Pono Kekela, Water Board Meeting
Mr. Stephen "Kawena" Lopez, 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
Ms. Nancy Cook Lauer, West Hawaii Today
DEPARTMENT OF
WATER SUPPLY STAFF: Mr. Kawika Uyehara, Deputy
Ms. Candace Gray, Waterworks Controller
Mr. Gregory Goodale, Chief of Operations
Mr. Eric Takamoto, Operations Division
Mr. Warren Ching, Energy Management Specialist
Mr. William O'Neil, Jr., Water Service District Supervisor 11, DWS Waimea
Ms. Janet Snyder, Information & Education Specialist II
(Chairperson De Luz called the Public Hearing to order at 9: 46 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'll have the members of the Board and staff
introduce themselves. To my right, please?
K. SUGAI: Ken Sugai, District 6.
S. HIRAKAML• Steve Hirakami, District 5.
CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ: And we'll start off to my left, and move towards me, please.
M. BELL: Michael Bell, District 7.
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K. KEOLANUI: Kea Keolanui, District 1.
B. NEY: Benjamin Ney, District 9.
J. HUGO: Julie Hugo, not sure of the district. Number 2, I think. Sorry.
CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ: Thank you. And just for the record, we have Board Member, Pono; but I believe be
will be coming later?
SECRETARY: Yes.
CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ: Okay, thank you. Notice of this public hearing was published in the Hawaii
Tribune -Herald and in the West Hawaii Today on June 7, 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 111, Chapter 54, Hawai`i 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 $2.34 to $2.48 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 are to be presented in person at the time of
the hearing. 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. The hearing is now
open for comments from the floor. Is there anyone here to provide oral testimony?
SECRETARY: No, Mr. Chair.
CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ: Thank you. if there is no further testimony, at this time, 1 would like to entertain a
Motion that this Public Hearing be closed.
K. SUGAI: So move.
K. KEOLANUI: Second.
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CHAIRPERSON DE LUZ: Moved by Mr. Sugai and seconded by Ms. Keolanui. It has been moved and
seconded that the public hearing be closed. All those in favor say "aye." (Board:
Unanimous Ayes) Opposed? (None) Motion is carried. Thank you.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 9: SO a.m.)
Recording Secretary
APPROVED BY WATER BOARD
DULY 26, 2022
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