Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-23 Minutes of the Public Hearing on the proposed new cost of power adjustment clause MINUTES WATER BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED NEW COST OF POWER ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE January 23, 2024 Department of Water Supply, Hilo Operations, 889 Leilani Street,Hilo, Hawaii MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Stephen Kawena Lopez, Chairperson Mr. Michael Pono Kekela,Vice-Chairperson Mr. Michael Bell, Water Board Member Mr. Steven Hirakami, Water Board Member Ms.Kea Keolanui, Water Board Member Mr. James Kimo Lee,Water Board Member Mr. Benjamin Ney,Water Board Member Mr. Keith Unger, Water Board Member Mr. Keith K. Okamoto,Manager-Chief Engineer, Department of Water Supply(ex-officio member) ABSENT: Mr. Thomas Brown,Water Bord 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 Ms. Candace Gray,Waterworks Controller Mr. Gregory Goodale, Chief of Operations Mr. Eric Takamoto, Operations Division Mr. Warren Ching, Energy Management Analyst Mr. Alvin Inouye, Water Operations Superintendent Ms. Nora Avenue, Recording Secretary (Chairperson Lopez called the meeting to order at 9:45 a.m.) CHR. LOPEZ: Good morning. Will the public hearing of the Water Board on the proposed new cost of Power Adjustment Clause will now come to order. I am Stephen"Kawena"Lopez, Chairperson of the Water Board; and request the Secretary take a roll call for the members of the Board. MS. AVENUE: Mr. Bell? MR. BELL: Present. MS. AVENUE: Mr. Brown? (Absent) Mr. Hirakami? MR, HIRAKAML• Here. MS. AVENUE: Mr. Kekela? MR, KEKELA: Bo. MS. AVENUE: Ms. Keolanui? MS. KEOLANUI: Present. MS. AVENUE: Mr. Lee? MR. LEE: Here. MS. AVENUE: Mr. Ney? MR.NEY: Present. MS. AVENUE: Mr. Unger? MR. UNGER: Here. MS. AVENUE: Chairperson Lopez? CHR. LOPEZ: Here. MS. AVENUE: Chairperson,you have eight present; and one absent, Mr. Brown. CHR. LOPEZ: The Notice of the Public was published in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald and in the West Hawaii Today on January 2, 2024, and is posted at the entry of this venue. 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,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 decreasing the Power Cost Charge from $2.64 to $2.37 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 Page 2 of 3 January 23,2024,Minutes of the Public Hearing on the Power Cost Charge 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. Secretary, is there anyone registered to provide oral testimony or is there any written testimony because there may be some who do not have written statements but would like to testify or comment and would like to afford you this opportunity to do so but will limit such presentation to three minutes. The hearing is now open for comments from the floor. Secretary,is there anyone registered to provide oral testimony or is there any written? MS. AVENUE: None,Mr. Chair. CHR. LOPEZ: There being no testimony at this time, I will entertain a motion that this public hearing be closed. MR. UNGER: So moved. MR.NEY: Second. CHR. LOPEZ: It has been moved and seconded that the public hearing is closed. All those in favor say aye. (Board Members: Unanimous Ayes) Any opposed? (None.) Motion is carried. Thank you. (Public Hearing adjourned at 9:50 a.m.) Recording Secretary APPROVED BY WATER BOARD FEBRUARY 27, 2024 Page 3 of 3 January 23,2024,Minutes of the Public Hearing on the Power Cost Charge