Up and Running at Koloa Substation - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
Up and Running at Koloa Substation - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Up and Running at Koloa Substation - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
Elections One of the most important things you will do every year is vote for your board of directors. There will be three vacancies to fill in March of 2012. The board governs the business and affairs of KIUC and is generally concerned with the broad courses of action to be followed by KIUC. It is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the utility, but directors are your conduit to the cooperative. Board of Directors The KIUC board focuses the staff of KIUC on achieving financial strength, communicating with members and investigating alternative sources of energy. The partnership between your board of directors, CEO, management and staff of KIUC results in success in all areas. Board Responsibilities • Advocate for members—works with the CEO to develop policies to make sure members’ concerns are addressed promptly and fairly, to promote good member relations and to keep members informed on important issues • Approve annual operating budgets, construction work plans, compensation plans and capital expenditure budgets • Ensure development of plans for a long-term supply of reliable, economical electricity and the development of long-term sources of operating capital • Approve plans for management of member equity and all proposed changes in rates to be submitted to the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission (HPUC) • Recruit, select and evaluate the CEO • Select KIUC’s independent auditor and engage them for an annual financial audit Patronage Capital Refunds and Accounts When the cooperative takes in more money than is needed to operate the business, pay outstanding loans and pay any additional expenses, the owners are entitled to a share. That’s member equity. At KIUC, your equity account is based on the amount you paid during the year—the more you buy, the higher your share of equity. We set up a capital credit account that shows on the books the share of the year’s net margins belonging to you. Each member will receive an annual statement showing his or her individual ownership interest in KIUC capital. As new member equity funds come in year after year, KIUC will be able to “retire” its older capital credits funds, issuing patronage capital checks or bill credits to members. 4 KAUA‘I ISLAND UTILITY COOPERATIVE Your elected board of directors and the bylaws determine how and when capital credits are paid—or retired—to members. KIUC’s bylaws have a provision for repayment of capital credits on a rotating basis. The retiring of capital credits depends on the successful operation of the cooperative, its financial status and the level of loan repayments. Guiding Principles KIUC board members and key staff addressed many issues that face KIUC and concluded the following: • Attention to Members. One of the more important components of the strategy is to continue striving to ensure the satisfaction of the membership with responsive and value-driven services. Communication between KIUC and members is a critical element in maintaining a positive relationship through clear and consistent two-way understanding. • Workforce Excellence. It is acknowledged that a skilled, well-trained and competent workforce is a necessary ingredient in achieving quality outcomes. Providing excellence in services is essential for KIUC to carry out its vision, mission and strategic goals. This means paying attention to and caring for its employees is essential for KIUC to serve its members.
• Diverse Energy Solutions. It is clear that simply providing electric service to members will not accomplish KIUC’s vision and mission. KUC must meet its own sustainable energy goals, requirements set by the state of Hawai‘i’s renewable energy portfolio standards and work with the state to accomplish the HCEI goals. • Financial Stability. Above all, KIUC must remain financially stable. KIUC must meet its current and future debt obligations. The shift to sustainable resources and the incorporation of energy solutions to handle growth and ensure grid stability will require capitalization that must be balanced against fair and competitive rates. • Reliability. There is no substitute for reliability of service. Vision and Mission Vision: To be an energy solutions leader. Mission: To provide reliable power safely that is fairly and competitively priced; practice conservation and efficient use of energy resources; increase sustainable power supply and environmental stewardship; and improve the quality of life for members and Kaua‘i. Together, we power Kaua‘i! KIUC Culture The KIUC culture is shaped by several elements, all critical to its success. The first is that KIUC embraces the seven principles of a cooperative. Second, the KIUC board and employees embrace “Ho ‘oka ‘ana Waiwai”— an agreed upon set of Hawaiian-based values that provide a guiding statement. Ho ‘oka ‘ana Waiwai reads as follows: Aloha We welcome our members with respect, sincerity and graciousness. I will seek to be trustworthy, to share, respect and be kind to my KIUC brothers and sisters, and members. Ho ‘ohiki We are committed to keeping our promises to each other and our community. I am accountable for what I say and do. Ho ‘okela We strive to provide the best service to our members. I will contribute my best to attain the highest level of achievement. Ho ‘omau We will persevere in our journey together towards member satisfaction. I will not waiver from the path. Kuleana We accept our responsibility to our island community as a privilege. To do the right thing is a privilege I accept. Kupono We will treat members with fairness, integrity and honesty. I am committed to treat others the way I like to be treated. Laulima We will work together toward common goals where one person’s success is everyone’s success. ‘Ohana Community and coworkers, everyone is part of the KIUC family. Finally, within these principles and values, the KIUC leadership team identified the central core values that are to be tied to work performance, practiced daily, promoted without compromise and communicated through actions. These core values tell how you treat each other, how you treat your members, how you treat external stakeholders and how you go about doing your tasks all of the time— not just when you feel like it. The central core values are: Respect (Kupono): Treating everyone with fairness, integrity and honesty. Teamwork (Laulima): Looking out for each other and working together as One Team toward common goals. Excellence (Ho ‘okela): Striving to provide the best professional service to our members by producing high quality work and excelling in everything one does. Responsibility (Kuleana): Practicing stewardship and the privilege of doing the right thing for our members in a responsive manner. 2012 NEW MEMBER GUIDE 5
- Page 1 and 2: 3-Time Award-Winning December 2011
- Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents Light Up A Life .
- Page 5 and 6: By Paul Daniels A Picture’s Worth
- Page 7 and 8: At the end of September, the Hawai
- Page 9 and 10: Get Smart About The Smart Grid Lear
- Page 11 and 12: Photos by Shelley Paik KIUC’s ele
- Page 13 and 14: California No-Crust Quiche and Then
- Page 15 and 16: KIUC’s program to generate at lea
- Page 17 and 18: Bissell completed his report with a
- Page 19 and 20: “As a member, you have a voice in
- Page 21 and 22: KIUC Honored for Community Service
- Page 23 and 24: In late October, groups of children
- Page 25 and 26: The KIUC Board of Directors appoint
- Page 27 and 28: New Member Guide
- Page 29: What is an Electric Cooperative? Se
- Page 33 and 34: National Rural Electric Cooperative
- Page 35 and 36: Kaua‘i Smart Grid Initiative The
- Page 37 and 38: Radio Frequency Comparison of Commo
- Page 39 and 40: How will the co-op read the meters?
- Page 41 and 42: Service Activations and Disconnects
- Page 43 and 44: Storm Sense Hurricane season runs f
- Page 45 and 46: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance P
- Page 47 and 48: Social Media Reaching More Members
- Page 49 and 50: 2012 Calendar of Student Art Judges
- Page 51 and 52: Electric cooperatives are different
- Page 53 and 54: Call it Cost-effective Economical P
- Page 55 and 56: Simple Pleasures Joe Fontanilla rec
• Diverse Energy Solutions. It is clear th<strong>at</strong> simply<br />
providing electric service to members will not<br />
accomplish KIUC’s vision <strong>and</strong> mission. KUC must meet<br />
its own sustainable energy goals, requirements set by the<br />
st<strong>at</strong>e of Hawai‘i’s renewable energy portfolio st<strong>and</strong>ards<br />
<strong>and</strong> work with the st<strong>at</strong>e to accomplish the HCEI goals.<br />
• Financial Stability. Above all, KIUC must remain<br />
financially stable. KIUC must meet its current <strong>and</strong> future<br />
debt oblig<strong>at</strong>ions. The shift to sustainable resources <strong>and</strong><br />
the incorpor<strong>at</strong>ion of energy solutions to h<strong>and</strong>le growth<br />
<strong>and</strong> ensure grid stability will require capitaliz<strong>at</strong>ion th<strong>at</strong><br />
must be balanced against fair <strong>and</strong> competitive r<strong>at</strong>es.<br />
• Reliability. There is no substitute for reliability of service.<br />
Vision <strong>and</strong> Mission<br />
Vision:<br />
To be an energy solutions leader.<br />
Mission:<br />
To provide reliable power safely th<strong>at</strong> is fairly <strong>and</strong><br />
competitively priced; practice conserv<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>and</strong> efficient<br />
use of energy resources; increase sustainable power<br />
supply <strong>and</strong> environmental stewardship; <strong>and</strong> improve<br />
the quality of life for members <strong>and</strong> Kaua‘i.<br />
Together, we power Kaua‘i!<br />
KIUC Culture<br />
The KIUC culture is shaped by several elements, all<br />
critical to its success. The first is th<strong>at</strong> KIUC embraces the<br />
seven principles of a cooper<strong>at</strong>ive. Second, the KIUC<br />
board <strong>and</strong> employees embrace “Ho ‘oka ‘ana Waiwai”—<br />
an agreed upon set of Hawaiian-based values th<strong>at</strong> provide<br />
a guiding st<strong>at</strong>ement. Ho ‘oka ‘ana Waiwai reads as<br />
follows:<br />
Aloha We welcome our members with respect,<br />
sincerity <strong>and</strong> graciousness. I will seek to be<br />
trustworthy, to share, respect <strong>and</strong> be kind to<br />
my KIUC brothers <strong>and</strong> sisters, <strong>and</strong><br />
members.<br />
Ho ‘ohiki We are committed to keeping our promises<br />
to each other <strong>and</strong> our community. I am<br />
accountable for wh<strong>at</strong> I say <strong>and</strong> do.<br />
Ho ‘okela We strive to provide the best service to our<br />
members. I will contribute my best to <strong>at</strong>tain<br />
the highest level of achievement.<br />
Ho ‘omau We will persevere in our journey together<br />
towards member s<strong>at</strong>isfaction. I will not<br />
waiver from the p<strong>at</strong>h.<br />
Kuleana We accept our responsibility to our isl<strong>and</strong><br />
community as a privilege. To do the right<br />
thing is a privilege I accept.<br />
Kupono We will tre<strong>at</strong> members with fairness,<br />
integrity <strong>and</strong> honesty. I am committed to<br />
tre<strong>at</strong> others the way I like to be tre<strong>at</strong>ed.<br />
Laulima We will work together toward common<br />
goals where one person’s success is<br />
everyone’s success.<br />
‘Ohana Community <strong>and</strong> coworkers, everyone is part<br />
of the KIUC family.<br />
Finally, within these principles <strong>and</strong> values, the KIUC<br />
leadership team identified the central core values th<strong>at</strong> are<br />
to be tied to work performance, practiced daily, promoted<br />
without compromise <strong>and</strong> communic<strong>at</strong>ed through actions.<br />
These core values tell how you tre<strong>at</strong> each other, how you<br />
tre<strong>at</strong> your members, how you tre<strong>at</strong> external stakeholders<br />
<strong>and</strong> how you go about doing your tasks all of the time—<br />
not just when you feel like it. The central core values are:<br />
Respect (Kupono): Tre<strong>at</strong>ing everyone with fairness,<br />
integrity <strong>and</strong> honesty.<br />
Teamwork (Laulima): Looking out for each other <strong>and</strong><br />
working together as One Team toward common goals.<br />
Excellence (Ho ‘okela): Striving to provide the best<br />
professional service to our members by producing high<br />
quality work <strong>and</strong> excelling in everything one does.<br />
Responsibility (Kuleana): Practicing stewardship <strong>and</strong><br />
the privilege of doing the right thing for our members in<br />
a responsive manner.<br />
2012 NEW MEMBER GUIDE 5
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