Hot water at Mayor Wright Homes has been restored after the state recently completed installing a backup water-heating system. 

Gov. Neil Abercrombie said today that the installation is the first step toward a long-term permanent solution for a water heating system. The state budget for fiscal year 2012 includes $5.6 million in capital improvement funds for the system.

In recent years, residents complained of the lack of hot water due to intermittent failure of the public housing complex’s solar water heating system and backup system. 

As of Wednesday, contractors completed installing backup systems for gas-powered tankless water heaters to all 35 buildings at the complex.

"We are committed to working with the residents of Mayor Wright Homes and other public housing communities to address maintenance issues that have been deferred for too long, " Department of Human Services Director Pat McManaman said.