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Question: Do you know if the Hawaiian Electric meter readers must wear an ID tag on their clothing? The reason I ask was that on April 13 my wife said that the neighbor’s dog was barking at someone outside our neighbor’s house. When my wife looked outside she saw a male with shorts and a collared shirt using binoculars looking at the neighbor’s house where the electric meter is located. By the time she went outside to ask this person what he was doing, the person was already walking down the street. Do you know if this is how Hawaiian Electric meter readers are reading the electric meters? With binoculars? Can you find out if this is how they go house to house? If they do, then they certainly need to wear some kind of identification on them. My wife was kind of shaken because this could have been someone staking out homes that they want to burglarize.
Answer: Yes, legitimate meter readers wear name tags, and they do use binoculars to read the meter without entering a person’s property. Peter Rosegg, a Hawaiian Electric spokesman, provides details about their attire, transportation and work processes, and whom to call if you have concerns:
“Hawaiian Electric Companies’ meter readers wear a company identification card, on a lanyard or clip, with his or her name and photo, plus the company’s logo. They wear a solid-blue shirt with a large company logo across the back and a small logo above the front pocket.
“Our meter readers drive white pickup trucks or SUVs branded with our company’s logo on the doors, vehicle numbers on the back fender, and bright-yellow license plates.
“A meter reader reads each customer’s electric meter each month between 27 and 33 days apart. He or she is often equipped with binoculars to read a meter without entering a customer’s property and a hand-held, electronic device to upload electricity use data to our office.”
To verify that someone you see near your home is a electrical meter reader, call:
>> Hawaiian Electric Oahu: 548-7311
>> Maui Electric Maui: 871-9777 Molokai or Lanai: 877-871-8461
>> Hawaii Electric Light Hilo: 969-6999 Kona: 329-3584 Waimea: 885-4605
To immediately report a suspicious person, call 911.
Q: If SB 2922 passes, does that mean Hawaii would stop using state general excise tax and personal income tax as sources of funding for the public schools and instead use county property taxes? Or are they intending to use all three? The other states use property taxes because they fund their schools at the local/county level. They don’t get their main funding at the state level, the way Hawaii schools do.
A: No to your first question and yes to the second. Approval of the bill would put a constitutional amendment before Hawaii voters, asking them whether to authorize the Legislature to establish “a surcharge on investment real property to be used to support public education.” This funding would be in addition to the state’s general fund appropriation to the state Department of Education. Read the bill and testimony for and against it at 808ne.ws/sb2922.
Mahalo
On Saturday I was on my way to do a memorial service at the Mililani mortuary. There were lane closures and backed-up cars, and I took the wrong cutoff and was lost. Fortunately, I was able to ask for directions at the Pearl City police station. The policewoman printed the map and gave me directions. I did not get her name, but want to express my appreciation for her kindness. I was able to do the service on time. — Grateful minister
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.
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