ALOHA,

NEXT TOWN HALL MEETING TUESDAY MAY 29TH 6:00pm - 8:30pm AT EWA MAKAI MIDDLE SCHOOL

TAKE CONTROL OF ELECTRIC BILLS

Another consumer rights matter involves the monopoly on electricity here on Oahu.

Here is how some have described their electric bills of late: "How come the fox is running the hen house?"

What does that mean?

It means the very entity that provides us with electricity is also in complete control of distribution, generation and overall supply of electricity.

In other words, when a consumer tries to cut down on his or her electric bill with solar, or other renewable sources, the consumer is penalized with an even higher rate to make up for the electric company's revenue loss.

The more the electric company loses out by patrons weaning themselves off of the electric company's power source, the more losses in revenue accumulate for the electric company. Hence, rates go up across the board to make up for revenue losses - a lose-lose for the consumer.

I introduced Resolution 12-62 to get discussions going on how consumers should be rewarded for deploying their own independent power supply. The resolution should not be construed as a guise to be against the electric company, but rather as a means to find out how we can get the fox out of the hen house.

A town hall meeting is scheduled from 6 to 8:30 p.m. May 29 at Ewa Makai Middle School. The school is located at 91-6291 Kapolei Parkway.

The meeting will feature prominent guest speakers who are knowledgeable about how we can implement a better relationship with the electric company and turn that effort into savings for the consumer.

HEAR IWI COURT CASE

Click here to listen to court case involving rail.

LANDFILL MEETING THIS MORNING RESULTS

The Planning Commission of the City & County of Honolulu convened today to determine if the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill should be approved or denied of the following;

"Municipal solid waste shall be allowed at the WGSL up to July 31, 2012, provided that only ash and residue from H-POWER shall be allowed at the WGSL after July 31, 2012."

Shortly after the commission began its contested case hearing a motion was made and accepted to immediately enter into executive session.

The Planning Commission reconvened and a motion was made and accepted to place a 6-month stay on the Commissions proceedings in response to a State Land Use Commission letter dated May 22, 2012 to allow the LUC 6-months to either agree with the State Supreme Court that recently ruled to allow the WGSL a 15-year extension, or object to such. Furthermore it was entertained that the Planning Commission stands on its 2009 findings. Click here to read.