Maui Electric forgoes seeking rate hike

Maui Electric Co. did not request a base rate increase in a filing it submitted Tuesday to the state Public Utilities Commission.

The subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Cos. said Wednesday it turned in an abbreviated rate case — rather than a traditional rate case — with the goal of satisfying its requirement to submit a rate case filing in accordance with the mandatory three-year general rate case cycle established by the PUC.

MECO said in its filing it is forgoing a base rate increase request in recognition that its customers are already in "a challenging, high electricity bill environment."

The utility said it continues to move forward with actions to increase customer options and reduce costs, such as taking steps to integrate more customer-sited distributed energy resources, like rooftop solar; acquiring more lower-cost, utility-scale renewable energy resources; switching fuel from oil to liquefied natural gas; achieving operational efficiencies in existing power plants; and deactivating and/or decommissioning older, high-cost plants.

MECO said it expects to file its next rate case under the normal rate case cycle using a 2018 test year.

Nature Conservancy buys Big Island parcel

The Nature Conservancy has purchased a 222-acre property at the southern end of Hawaii island.

The acquisition of the parcel known as Kahuku Iki prevents it from being developed and opens the possibility of a future partnership with neighboring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the group said in a press release.

The agriculturally zoned land is between the towns of Ocean View and Naalehu in the district of Kau and extends 1.6 miles along Highway 11, the Hawaii Belt Road and the abandoned old Mamalahoa Highway. The land will be managed as a Nature Conservancy preserve.

Kohala Ditch Adventures shuts down

Kohala Ditch Adventures, which offered kayak tours on Hawaii island, has officially closed, its owners announced this week.

On Dec. 23, the Kohala Ditch sustained major damage and the owners and management decided they would no longer continue the business. However, ATV Outfitters will remain open and continue to provide its outdoor activities.

Ekahi Health to open urgent care clinic

Ekahi Health System will open an urgent care clinic in Waipahu on Saturday.

The clinic is located at the corner of Farrington Highway and Waipahu Depot at 94-229 Waipahu Depot St.

U.S. jobless aid applications increase

WASHINGTON » More Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, but the number of applications continues to be at historically low levels that suggest solid economic growth will continue.

The Labor Department said Wednesday that applications for unemployment benefits climbed 17,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 298,000. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, rose 250 to 290,750. That average has plummeted 17.5 percent in the past 12 months. Steadily accelerating job growth has helped fuel the economy.

Pending home sales in U.S. up slightly

WASHINGTON » The number of Americans signing contracts to buy homes rose modestly in November as a strengthening economy helped nudge some would-be homebuyers.

The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that its seasonally adjusted pending home sales index climbed 0.8 percent the past month to 104.8 from a revised 104 in October. The index remains slightly below its 2013 average but is 4.1 percent higher than last November.

Sony to offer wider viewing of ‘Interview’

LOS ANGELES » Sony Pictures on Wednesday said it had reached agreements with cable, satellite and telecom providers to expand the digital release of "The Interview."

Sony also will increase the movie’s U.S. theatrical run to more than 580 theaters from 331, starting Friday.

"The Interview," a comedy about the fictional assassination of North Korea’s leader, was the center of a free speech uproar in December when theaters balked at playing it in the face of a terror threat and Sony canceled its release. The film was ultimately made available for online rental and sale last week. Starting Wednesday, "The Interview" will be available on pay-per-view and on-demand services. Among the participants are Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Bright House, Cablevision, Charter Communications, AT&T U-verse, Verizon FiOS and DirecTV.

Wal-Mart’s digital on-demand service, Vudu, will also offer the film, joining iTunes, the Google Play store, YouTube Movies, Xbox Video and others.

ON THE MOVE

Blake Oshiro has rejoined the Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing law firm as director of counsel, practicing in the area of government relations.

Oshiro returns to the firm after three years as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Neil Abercrombie. As one of the governor’s senior political advisers and lead advocate for the Office of the Governor’s public policy, budgetary and legislative issues, Oshiro worked closely with all branches of state government along with officials and agencies at the federal and county level. Prior to that, Oshiro served as majority leader for the state House of Representatives, where he held office for more than a decade.

C. Mike Kido has joined the government relations team at Ashford & Wriston. He has 30 years of experience working with the state Legislature, Lone Star Hawaii, Hawaiian Cement, the Estate of James Campbell, Pacific Resource Partnership and, more recently, the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Office of the Governor.

Bennet Group Strategic Communications has promoted Andrea Lum to director from senior account manager. Before joining Bennet Group, she worked as an account executive at a local public relations agency, where she gained extensive experience with clients in the areas of consumer marketing, travel and tourism and community relations.