Hawaiian Electric Co. said it is awaiting approval by the state Public Utilities Commission for its annual “decoupling” rate adjustment that would raise a typical customer’s bill by 60 cents.
HECO applied for a rate adjustment in March. If the PUC approves HECO’s request, a typical residential bill for 500 kilowatt-hours per month would increase by 60 cents beginning June 1.
“Decoupling breaks the historic link between electricity usage and utility revenues, which removes the incentive for utilities to increase the use of electricity,” HECO says on its website. “This allows utilities to better support increased energy efficiency, conservation and increased use of renewable energy resources. Your individual customer bill is still based on the amount of electricity you use, so you will still save money by conserving electricity.”
Instead of the utility getting paid based on how much energy is sold, the PUC determines what services HECO should provide and how much revenue it can collect.
HCAP offers low-income home energy aid
Honolulu Community Action Program said Thursday it will begin accepting applications on Oahu for a program meant to help low-income households pay energy bills.
The federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps residents pay electrical or gas bills. HCAP said it helped over 4,800 Oahu families apply for energy assistance through the program in 2016.
Oahu residents can qualify for one of two options. One program, called Gas or Electric Bill Payment Assistance, applies an energy credit to residents’ gas or electricity accounts. The other program, called Energy Crisis Intervention, provides financial assistance to those whose electricity has been shut off in the past 60 days or is scheduled to be shut off within seven days.
HCAP will accept applications Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon throughout June at its five district centers on Oahu. HCAP can be reached at 521-4531.
ON THE MOVE
Olomana Loomis ISC has added the following three new employees to its team:
>> Kristine Sato is the new communications project manager. She previously served as a warranty assistant manager at A&B Properties Inc.
>> Daniel Guthmiller is the marketing coordinator. He previously served in a business development and public relations internship at Idaho Central Credit Union.
>> Brian Dumaslan is the new digital media production assistant. Prior to joining the firm, he served as an interface and graphic designer at Design Asylum Inc.
