HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-08-25 Public Hearing on Power Cost ChargeMINUTES
WATER BOARD
PUBLIC HEARING ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE POWER COST CHARGE
West Hawaii Civic Center, Community Center, Bldg. G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Kailua-Kona
August 25, 2015
PRESENT: Mr. Rick Robinson, Chairperson
Mr. Craig Takamine, Vice -Chairperson
Mr. Russell Arikawa, Board Member
Mr. Bryant Balog, Board Member
Mr. Leningrad Elarionoff, Board Member
Ms. Susan Lee Loy, Board Member
Mr. Jay Uyeda, Board Member
Ms. Kanoe Wilson, Board Member
Mr. Keith Okamoto, Manager -Chief Engineer, Department of Water
Supply (ex -officio member)
Mr. Kawika Uyehara, Deputy
Mr. Richard Sumada, Waterworks Controller
Mr. Kurt Inaba, Engineering Division Head
Ms. Amy Self, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Ms. Kanani Aton, Public Information and Education Specialist
Mr. Clyde Young, Operations
Ms. Judy Hayducsko, Operations
Mr. Eric Takamoto, Operations
Mr. Jeff Zimpfer, National Park Service
Mr. Steve Bolles, Process Energy Services, LLC
Mr. Dave Thomas
Mr. Sterling Chow, State Highways Division
Mr. Sal Panem, State Highways Division
Ms. Lisa Reddinger
Mr. Blaine Banks
Mr. John Makoff
Mr. Simon Poole
CALL TO ORDER: 9:45 a.m.
CHAIRPERSON: Will the public hearing of the Water Board on the proposed new cost of
Power Adjustment Clause please come to order.
The notice of this public hearing was published in the Hawaii Tribune -
Herald and West Hawaii Today on August 3, 2015.
Good morning. My name is Rick Robinson, Chairperson of the Water
Board, and will the members of the Board please introduce themselves,
starting from my right? (Ms. Susan Lee Loy, Messrs. Leningrad
Elarionoff, Craig Takamine, Jay Uyeda; Ms. Kanoe Wilson, and Messrs.
Russell Arikawa and Bryant Balog introduce themselves.)
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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. And that was done, correct, Janet?
(Secretary says Yes.) Okay. 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 this 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 comment or testimony on the proposed amendment
to the Power Cost Charge. The Department is recommending decreasing
the Power Cost Charge from $2.32 to $1.85, to reflect the decrease in the
Department of Water Supply's power costs. As everyone knows, the
Department of Water Supply is the biggest customer for HELCO on the
island.
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 because of the time limit.
The hearing is now open for comments from the floor. Did we receive
any written comments? (Secretary said no written testimony was
received.) Will you please wait until you are recognized by the Chair; and
for the record, could you please step forward, state your name and the
organization you represent, if any.
Is there anyone here to provide oral testimony? For the record, no one has
stepped forward to present oral testimony.
There being none, I would like to entertain a motion that this public
hearing be closed.
MR. ELARIONOFF So move.
MR. ARIKAWA: Second.
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CHAIRPERSON: It has been moved and seconded that the public hearing is closed. All those in
favor say "aye." Contrary -minded? Motion is carried. Thank you.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 9:48 a.m.)
Secretary
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