Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) is applying to raise Big Island electricity rates by 4.2 percent – shortly after its parent company announced impressive profits that were 70 percent higher than last year.
What’s wrong with this picture?
We – Ku‘ulei Kealoha Cooper, John E.K. Dill, Rockne Freitas,
Michelle Galimba, Richard Ha, Wallace Ishibashi, D. Noelani Kalipi, Ka‘iu
Kimura, Robert Lindsey, H.M. “Monty” Richards, Marcia Sakai, Lehua Veincent,
Bill Walter – invite you to join our
newly formed group, the Big Island Community Coalition. Our mission is “to work
together as an island community for the greater good of Hawai‘i Island and its
people.”
Our first priority: To make Big Island electricity rates the
lowest in the state by emphasizing the use of our ample local resources.
The proposed HECO rate increase, coming at a time of record
profits, does not sit right with us.
“Yes, we understand the regulatory system,” said Kalipi,
“which is rate-based. But if HECO profits from it, they should be investing
those profits into a sustainable grid. At the end of the day, the utility is
only loyal to its shareholders right now, rather than to the rate payers. As
part of good corporate business, it should benefit both by investing its
profits into a sustainable grid.”
“The Big Island is one of the few places on the planet where
we have firm, reliable, renewable energy resources that can be harnessed
effectively to provide lower cost electricity in the long run for our
residents,” she said.
“One example is geothermal, which costs about half the price
of oil,” she said. “We also have solar, wind and hydroelectric. We have
resources right here that can both lower our electricity costs and get us off
of imported oils.”
Lower rates would mean the ability to do studies needed to
bring on board other, cheaper renewable energy sources. They also mean that when the grid needs
repairs, or the cost of oil goes up again, it would not be such a
punch-in-the-gut to our electric bills.
If HELCO is allowed to raise its rates by the requested 4.2
percent, plus raise rates again via the Aina Koa Pono project, and then the oil
price goes up, that will be a triple whammy price hike on your electric bill.
Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi has sent a strong message that
the County will not support new renewable energy projects – such as Aina Koa
Pono, which would add surcharges to every electric customer’s bill – unless
they result in cheaper energy. “Unless it has lower rates, we will not support
it,” he said recently.
UH Hilo just had a $5.5 million electric bill – almost
$500,000 more than last year – and HELCO’s proposed 4.2 percent rate increase
would add another $230,000 to their bill. The same thing is happening at
hospitals, hotels and businesses. Farmers’ expenses are going way up, which
threatens our food security. Electricity rate increases ripple through every
part of our economy. They are already rippling.
People are already struggling with their monthly HELCO bill.
Some are having their lights turned off.
As rates continue to increase, more people will leave the
grid and fewer will remain to pay for the infrastructure, meaning that those
households and businesses that remain (because they cannot afford to get off
the grid) will pay even more.
You may think the electric utility is a big powerful entity
that you cannot affect, but you can. Pay attention! Show up! Write a letter! Do
something! If you leave your name and contact information at http://www.bigislandcommunitycoalition.com, we will send an
occasional email to keep you informed of what’s happening, and how you can
help.
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