Question: We had a photovoltaic system installed March 13. Our permit was filed with the city Building Department’s electrical division. But to date, the city has not come to inspect the electrical connection and Hawaiian Electric will not change the meter until that is done. I called the city several times asking when the inspection is scheduled for Kailua, but no one returned my calls. Why is this taking so long to be done?

Answer: The problem, as we explained in May (http://is.gd/8Tm5gI) is that the city Department of Planning and Permitting is continuing to be inundated with requests for photovoltaic inspections, on top of requests for other electrical inspections.

The city is hoping for some relief through Bill 51, introduced by Councilman Ikaika Anderson, which would basically allow for “self-certification.”

In lieu of an electrical inspection by the city, the homeowner would be allowed to submit an electrical inspection report “from a qualified individual,” said Tim Hiu, DPP’s acting chief of the Building Division. “It would be an option.”

The bill, which has passed first hearing, will be up before the Council’s Zoning Committee at 9 a.m. Thursday at Honolulu Hale.

There is “a time lag and delay” in getting inspections done, Hiu acknowledged. It’s hard to ask for patience from those still waiting, especially in the Kailua area where there’s been “a spike” in requests, “but for every one complaining, we’re taking care of quite a few others,” he said.

Between 2010 and today, DPP has inspected and “closed” about 8,250 photovoltaic permits — more than 6,000 this fiscal year alone.

Multiple companies are installing photovoltaic systems, with subsequent requests for inspections funneling into DPP. “We went from 3,200 PV permits to almost 12,000 PV permits in two short years,” Hiu said.

During the same period, “we closed over 34,000 permits. … That gives you a perspective” of the demands placed on the department’s 17 electrical inspectors, he said. Other inspections involve construction of new homes and commercial projects, for example.

“We have to prioritize our daily inspections and (photovoltaic) is one of many inspection requests that we get,” Hiu said. “Our electrical inspectors have to balance out the schedule and the needs, with everybody being equal.”

Question: In the coming election for Honolulu mayor, will the candidate who receives the most votes be elected mayor or could there be a runoff election?

Answer: When the  mayoral election is held on Aug. 11, the date of the primary election, one of four candidates can be elected outright.

That’s if either  Mayor Peter Carlisle or one of his three challengers — Kirk Caldwell, Ben Cayetano and Khistina Caldwell DeJean — receives a majority of the votes cast.

If not, the two highest vote-getters will move on to the Nov. 6 general election.

Blank ballots or ballots rejected for any reason will be counted in determining what the majority vote is, according to City Clerk Bernice Mau.

Mahalo

To a very kind, courteous young couple who was seated on a bench while waiting to dine at Restaurant Kunio in Waikele on the evening of June 2. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so we also waited in line. The young lady told her boyfriend, Gary, to offer us their seat. We are seniors and I use a cane, but it was OK to stand. However, I felt so thankful for their kind offer. Their gesture just touched our hearts because this is the type of courtesy we hope our own grandchildren will show to elders and also gives us hope that kindness is still alive in the younger generation of Hawaii today. Sorry we didn’t get the young woman’s name, but thanks to Gary and his girlfriend. — Gratefully, Harry and Nancy H.

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Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.