Shine light on Kalaeloa electricity bills

The electric bill given to a particular West Oahu neighborhood produced a shock of almost electric proportions.

Kalaeloa, the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station until it was closed in 2003, is having growing pains as a civilian community.

And among those experiencing the most painful experiences have been residents of the Kaimana townhouse neighborhood, one of three formerly Navy housing areas that are now on the general rental market.

The rents have been attractive to many of these families, but recently when the other shoe dropped — a huge boost in the hundreds of dollars on what each unit pays — it no longer seems like a fair deal.

It’s a small project of some 121 units, but there’s a larger concern for those who want to see Kalaeloa build out to its full potential.

Realizing the increase in affordable rentals and other benefits of Kalaeloa redevelopment will not happen unless there is more regularity with the electrical service, and more transparency in how billing is handled.

Service improvement is in the works but needs to be accelerated.

As for the transparency issue, that is the responsibility of the management company overseeing the billing. But management has not been stable, so that hasn’t helped matters.

It changed hands again this week to Greystar, based in Charleston, S.C.

The management pays the Navy for electricity, then bills the tenants.

As there are no meters on the apartments, the expenses are simply divided among them according to unit size, regardless of how much electricity their occupants use each month.

Granted, there are many condo and apartment complexes that are not individually metered, but these residents have no assurance that their bills are calculated fairly.

Unfortunately, because the Navy still has control over the electrical distribution at this project, the state Public Utilities Commission cannot provide oversight.

But it’s good that state Rep. Andria Tupola has stepped up to serve as an advocate for the tenants, some of whom have sought extra jobs just to pay their cost increases.

Just as an example:

Honolulu Star-Advertiser writer Kathryn Mykleseth spoke with residents such as Sapati Umaga, whose month’s bill was $435 in May; it spiked to $751 in August.

Other common expenses are bundled into this billing, but the portion for electricity is by far the largest.

It’s counter-intuitive that these residents would be paying so much more when the rest of the state has generally benefited from lower costs for oil and, therefore, electricity.

Tupola (R, Kalaeloa-Ko Olina-Maili) said she will meet with the Navy to determine whether the increase in customer billing at Kaimana is proportionate to any change in what the Navy is billing its manage-ment company.

That is essential information that is only fair to ask on behalf of the renters.

Kalaeloa comprises parcels controlled by public and private owners; its overall planning and regulation is in the hands of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, which also oversees Kakaako redevelopment.

There is a connection being planned that would link the Kaimana project to the larger grid, which would enable Hawaiian Electric Co. to handle billing, said HCDA spokesman Garett Kame-moto. But although that hookup received a legislative appropriation, he added, it is in the contracting process, meaning it’s a good two years from completion.

All parties should work to speed that timetable.

Taking the longer view, bringing Kalaeloa up to standard so that residents and businesses can move in confident of the infrastructure — and costs — is the only way the community can grow and thrive.

As for poor Kaimana: These residents should not have to put up living “in the dark” about their monthly expenses.

The Navy, along with the new management, should meet soon with tenant representatives, who deserve a full explanation of costs.