#Hawaii Public Utilities Commission

Commission heeds calls for rate accountability in Hawaiian Electric’s 75-year-old Waiʻau power plant repowering; “We have a credible proposal on the table to make energy more affordable,” concluded Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green. “People want change — this administration will continue to deliver change that prioritizes the needs of the people of Hawaiʻi.”

The commission said the approval is a major step toward improving public safety and resilience of Hawaiʻi’s electric grid; these actions together reflect the commission’s commitment to reduce wildfire risk while preparing for the possibility of future disasters.

The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved a 25.75% rate increase for the limited liability company, Young Brothers, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

This increase in annual revenue is necessary to account for investments made to maintain and strengthen the Waikōloa Resort and Village water and wastewater systems, inflation, and operating cost increases.

State board OK’d limited temporary rate hike of 18.1%, effective from July 1 through Dec. 31, based on an assessment of the minimum amount necessary to allow the company to continue providing essential interisland shipping services while commissioners complete a review of the firm’s pending general rate increase request of 25%.

The shipping company is asking the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission for the additional revenue to cover significant spikes in service costs, support critical investments in equipment and infrastructure upgrades and sustain vital interisland services. 

Hawaiian Electric’s power purchase contract with Wailuku River Hydroelectric was set to expire on May 12. The partners are negotiating a new long-term contract now, but have asked for an amendment to their existing agreement that would extend the contract for up to five years and could also provide savings to Big Island electricity customers.

Hawai’i Energy can award a total of $592,000 in rebates for eligible installation projects of electric vehicle charging stations completed between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

In a decision issued Monday, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved Young Brothers’ emergency request to increase rates by 46% with several conditions over the next 12 months.

Twelve of the 21 containers are reported as missing, while nine continue to float offshore. 

Six grid-scale solar-plus-battery storage projects have been approved by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

The Public Utilities Commission has approved a plan by the Hawaiian Electric Companies to put the latest digital technology to work managing the electric grids.

The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, approved a Decision and Order for Hawai‘i Water Service’s (Hawai‘i Water) general rate case.

HELCO requests that customers who dropped off payments between 2:30 and 10:30 p.m. Dec. 14 call Customer Service at (808) 969-6999 to check their payment status.

Hawai‘i Electric Light Company is investigating the theft of envelopes from a payment drop box outside its main office at 1200 Kīlauea Ave. in Hilo.

The request is for a 3.4% increase in revenues, or $13.4 million over revenues at current effective rates.

Gov. David Ige has accepted the resignation of Randall Iwase, who will be leaving the Public Utilities Commission effective Dec. 28, 2018.

The Hawaiian Electric Companies have acquired Hawaiian Telcom’s ownership interest in approximately 120,000 jointly-owned utility electric distribution poles.

Customers in portions of Hilo, Kea‘au, Puna, Honoka‘a, Kona, South Point, Waikoloa and Waimea experienced a power interruption early Sunday morning, Sept. 2.

Currently, fewer than 30 customers in lower Puna, Hāmākua and Hilo are without power.