HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-27 Minutes of the Public Hearing for the Power Cost Charge MINUTES
WATER BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON THE
PROPOSED NEW COST OF POWER ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE
August 27, 2024
West Hawaii Civic Center, Building G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokdlole Highway,Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Michael Pono Kekela, Vice-Chairperson, Dist. 4
Mr. Michael Bell,Water Board Member, Dist. 7
Mr. Benjamin Ney, Water Board Member, Dist. 9
Mr. Keith Unger,Water Board Member, Dist. 6
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto,Manager-Chief Engineer,
Department of Water Supply(ex-officio member)
ABSENT: Mr. Stephen Kawena Lopez, Chairperson,Dist. 8
Mr. Thomas Brown,Water Board Member,Dist. 3
Ms. Kea Keolanui,Water Board Member, Dist. 1
Mr. James Kimo Lee,Water Board Member,Dist. 2
Director,Planning Department(ex-officio member)
Director,Department of Public Works(ex-officio member)
OTHERS PRESENT: Ms. Keyra Wong, 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. Alvin Inouye,Water Operations Superintendent
Mr. Warren Ching, Energy Management Analyst
Ms.Nora Avenue,Recording Secretary
(Vice-Chairperson Michael Pono Kekela called the public hearing to order at 9:45 a.m.)
VICE-CHR. KEKELA: Good morning. Will the public hearing on the Water Board on the proposed new cost of
Power Adjustment Clause please come to order? I am Michael Pono Kekela,Vice-Chairperson of the Water
Board; and I would like to take this opportunity to have the Secretary,Nora,take a roll call for who is in attendance
from the Board.
(A roll call was taken for Water Board Members in attendance. Four Board Members were present: Mr. Bell,
Mr.Ney,Mr. Unger, and Vice-Chairperson Kekela.)
VICE-CHR KEKELA: Thank you. Notice of this public hearing was published in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald and
in the West Hawaii Today on August 1, 2024.
The Department of Water Supply is operated and controlled by this Water Board as provided by the Hawaii
County Charter. Section 63 of Part I11, 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$2.77 to $3.04 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. Secretary,is there anyone registered to provide oral
testimony or is there any written testimony?
MR. OKAMOTO: We do have one written testimony that was submitted by email, and it should have been
distributed to all the Water Board members.
VICE-CHR. KEKELA: So,there is one written testimony. Thank you to the presenter(Doug Perrine). At this
time, I'd like to entertain a motion that this Public Hearing be closed.
MR. UNGER: Motion,Keith.
MR.NEY: Second.
VICE-CHR. KEKELA: It has been moved and seconded that this Public Hearing be closed. All those in favor say
"aye."
BOARD MEMBERS: Aye.
VICE-CHR KEKELA: Motion is carried. Thank you.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 9:55 a.m.)
Recording Secretary
APPROVED BY WATER BOARD
(SEPTEMBER 24, 2024)
Page 2 of 2 August 27,2024,Minutes of the Public Hearing on the Power Cost Charge