Hawaii Kai meetings to address sewage rates
Residents can provide input on proposals to increase service rates and alter service rules
Hawaii Kai residents and business owners are being encouraged to attend two meetings about a proposed rate increase for their sewage service.
"Any cost increase, any fee increase is a concern to the community," said Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board Chairman Lester Muraoka.
Board members will hear a presentation by Hawaii-American Water Co. at Hahaione Elementary School's cafeteria tonight. The board meeting begins at 7 p.m. The private company is seeking to increase monthly rates for waste-water treatment services for 11,526 area residential and business customers.
Muraoka said the increase will significantly affect families. An earlier rate increase took effect last year, he said, noting residents might not understand why another increase is necessary.
The monthly rate for a single-family residential unit is proposed to increase nearly 12.5 percent, or $6.26, to $56.40 from $50.14. For a multifamily residential unit, the monthly rate would increase 18.10 percent, or $7.26, to $47.38 from $40.12.
Most commercial properties will also see an increase in their rates, except for food service operations, which would likely see a slight decrease in rates under the company's current proposal.
Company officials also are seeking to make a few significant changes to rules that govern terms of service.
State Division of Consumer Advocacy officials urged Hawaii Kai residents and business owners to attend a public hearing Thursday before the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission on the proposed rate increase.
"Input from customers helps us to more effectively represent them," said John Cole, executive director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy. "We just want to know what the customers think so we can consider that as we do our analysis."
The PUC hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at the Kamiloiki Elementary School Cafeteria, 7788 Hawaii Kai Drive.
Since 1974 the Hawaii-American Water Co. has been providing waste-water treatment services to residential and business customers in Hawaii Kai and surrounding areas.
Company officials could not be reached for comment.
Community members can submit written testimony to officials of the Public Utilities Commission and the Division of Consumer Advocacy on the day of the hearing.