So if Robbie Alm isn’t helping Hawaii’s power company, Hawaiian Electric, merge with Florida’s NextEra Energy, who is helping the big boys get what they want?

In last Sunday’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Capitol Bureau chief Kevin Dayton detailed how Alm has become something of the local version of an ambassador without portfolio, with a desk in Gov. David Ige’s office, but no specific power, salary or defining mission.

If Ige and Alm, as they claim, have not discussed the $4.3 billion merger, then the pair have separately come to the same conclusion: that Hawaii does not need to merge with the huge Florida power company.

There was a time when Hawaiian Electric political juice was lighting up the state Capitol as bright as its electricity.

HECO had the political power to make sure that the public utilities were well represented in legislative offices.

Rep. Bert Kobayashi, a veteran of both the state House and Senate, said in an interview: “When I first came into office (1978) it was pretty standard that someone in the Legislature would be representing the power company.”

Kobayashi recalled that Alm, a former HECO executive vice president, banker and state department director, was also part of HECO’s previously all-star lobbying team.

“When HECO had Robbie, along with Andy Chang, the former city managing director and state human services director, and Garen Deweese, who used to be the HGEA spokesman, I thought it was the best in town,” Kobayashi said.

Now Deweese is the only one of the trio still lobbying for HECO and Kobayashi said the clout is not the same.

Rep. Chris Lee, chairman of the state House Energy and Environment Committee, agreed, saying in an interview that supporting HECO puts voters on edge.

“I think the utility has had a hard time trying to convince legislators to do what they want them to do. Particularly because there is more distrust of the utility as rates and profits climb higher,” Lee said.

A survey of state Campaign Spending Commission records show that HECO and NextEra appreciate the good work done by local incumbent politicians and are willing to reward them.

Between 2008 and 2015, Constance Lau, HECO president and CEO, gave $30,600 to local politicians. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell got the most — $9,000 — with former Gov. Neil Abercrombie getting $6,500.

Alm, the former HECO VP, gave Abercrombie $7,000 and Caldwell $8,800. After winning last year’s primary election over Abercrombie, Ige got $2,000 from Alm.

Abercrombie was also the big winner in contributions from NextEra-related companies including NextEra Energy, NextEra Energy Resources, NextEra Energy Political Action Committee, NextEra Energy Transmission, LLC and NextEra Energy Infrastructure. All total, those companies gave Abercrombie $20,400. Ige after the primary got $1,000 from NextEra Energy Transmission.

Money aside, there now is a sense that HECO already lost the political battle with its high rates and sporadic support for rooftop solar.

“HECO has been slow to change,” says Kobayashi. “The combination of consumer desires or needs has not been recognized or responded to by HECO, especially relating to the photovoltaic issue.”

Lee was just as clear, saying, “No matter how much they give, public distrust is so high it would be difficult for any public official to want to be on their side.”

At the Legislature, at least, it appears HECO is already in the dark.

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.