August 2011 - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
August 2011 - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
August 2011 - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
3-Time Award-Winning<br />
<strong>August</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />
NRECA Youth Tour delegates<br />
return to Kaua’i as stronger leaders,<br />
with confidence to make a difference.
Kamamalu Condominiums in<br />
Lihue<br />
Beautiful, Brand New 2 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath<br />
condominiums! No restrictions on resale.<br />
Opportunity available now for Owner occupants or<br />
Investors! Very spacious floor plan with wonderful<br />
features. Interior Units: $189,000(fs) End Units:<br />
$242,000(fs). Call: Aloha <strong>Island</strong> Properties 246-<br />
0334 or Karen Agudong(R) 652-0677.<br />
5121 Menehune Road #1,<br />
Waimea<br />
A Gardener's delight! Almost 16,000 sf of land<br />
filled with fruit trees! 2 Bedrooms, 2 baths.<br />
Beautiful clean lines and pine trim construction.<br />
Vaulted ceiling in the upstairs and a solarpowered<br />
roof fan. $365,000(fs). Call: Kay<br />
Leonard(RA) 634-8697.<br />
<strong>Island</strong>er on the Beach<br />
OCEANFRONT property located along the beautiful<br />
Coconut Coast of Kapaa. Ground floor unit located<br />
directly across from the swimming pool w/ distant<br />
ocean views. ONLY steps from the beach. Sold<br />
COMPLETELY furnished w/ Hawaiian Style Decor and<br />
includes Travertine flooring, under-cabinet lighting at<br />
the kitchenette area, a small refrigerator, microwave<br />
and small sink. $86,900(fs). Call: Kay Leonard(RA)<br />
634-8697 or Karen Agudong(R) 652-0677<br />
Aloha <strong>Island</strong> Properties<br />
EXCEEDING YOUR EXPECTATIONS<br />
(808) 246-0334<br />
975 Kamalu Road, Wailua<br />
Breathtaking Custom home located on nearly 3<br />
acres of level land surrounded by Views of Mt<br />
Waialeale, Makaleha and Sleeping Giant. High End<br />
Custom Features. Guest quarters and a Salt water<br />
swimming pool. $1,550,000(fs). Call: Karen<br />
Agudong(R) 652-0677 or Kay Leonard(RA) 634-8697<br />
<strong>Kauai</strong> Beach Villas #E4<br />
Nice Ocean view 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Condo<br />
with resort amenities at a Great Price. Quiet<br />
location in the complex. Amenities include 24/7<br />
security, tennis, pool, bbq, water features,<br />
beautiful grounds and much more. ONLY<br />
$269,900(fs). Call: Judy Piano(RA) 651-9230<br />
Beautiful Pikake Lots in<br />
Lihue<br />
#1669 - Spacious 11,307 sf corner lot slightly<br />
elevated enhancing the views.<br />
$309,000(fs)<br />
#1739 - Golf Course, Lake & Mountain Views.<br />
11,513 sf. $269,000(fs)<br />
#1710 - Located on the 7th Fairway with Dynamic<br />
Ha'upu Mountain and gorgeous Golf<br />
Course views.. $359,000(fs)<br />
#1726 - Wonderful level, corner lot located toward<br />
the back of the subdivision. Gorgeous<br />
Mtn. views $265,000(fs)<br />
#1727 - 14,335 sq ft allows guest house. Golf<br />
course, lake frontage & dynamic mountain<br />
views. $319,000(fs)<br />
Call: Karen Agudong(R) 652-0677<br />
Halelani Village #X-102<br />
Corner ground floor condominium at Halelani<br />
Village. Fantastic fenced yard and good<br />
placement within complex. Nicely renovated 2<br />
bedroom, 1.5 bathroom with beautiful, low<br />
maintenance laminate flooring throughout. Clean<br />
and well maintained. $145,000(fs). Lender<br />
approved price. Short Sale. Call: Charlotte<br />
Barefoot(R) 651-4627.<br />
7136 Alamahi Road, Wainiha -<br />
NORTH SHORE<br />
11,051 sf lot in Wainiha. ONLY $275,000(fs)! Just<br />
a short walk to the beautiful North Shore Beaches<br />
and a short drive to beautiful and historic Hanalei<br />
town. Priced to sell! Sold As-Is. Sale is subject to<br />
Bankruptcy Court approval. Call: Karen<br />
Agudong(R) 652-0677 for more information.<br />
6370 Kawaihau Road, Kapaa<br />
3 Bedrooms, 1 bath home with attached 1<br />
bedroom, 1 bath and additional workshop building<br />
with bath, located on a spacious lot of almost<br />
15,000 sf. Beautiful mountain views. One electric<br />
meter and 2 water meters. Main house has solar.<br />
Property being sold As-is. $399,999(fs). Call:<br />
Karen Agudong(R) 652-0677<br />
Aloha <strong>Island</strong> Properties 3-3359 Kuhio Highway, Lihue, HI 96766<br />
808-246-0334 fax: 808-246-0771 www.alohaisland.com email: karen@alohaisland.com
Table of Contents<br />
QMARP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4<br />
A Picture’s Worth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5<br />
Resurgence in Heat Pump Water Heating Technology . . . . . . . . .6<br />
Advanced Meters for Advanced Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8<br />
Alexander & Baldwin and KIUC Announce<br />
Largest Solar Facility on Kaua‘i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11<br />
On the Way to Waiahi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12<br />
DLNR Supports Hydro Exploration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14<br />
KIUC Membership Approves Board Decision on<br />
Free Flow Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15<br />
KIUC Petition Signature Validation Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16<br />
Customer Generation Rate Comparison Offering . . . . . . . . . . . .17<br />
Effects of Lightning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18<br />
Renewable Outlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20<br />
KIUC Charitable Foundation Releases Funds for<br />
‘Free School Supplies Day’ and Scholarships<br />
for KCC Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21<br />
A Continuing Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22<br />
Stop Flu at School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25<br />
Walk to End Alzheimer’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25<br />
Four Smiling Faces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26<br />
2012 Calendar of Student Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29<br />
Mr. Medeiros Goes to Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30<br />
Rise and Shine! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32<br />
A Message From the Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34<br />
KIUC’s <strong>2011</strong> Membership Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34<br />
Board Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35<br />
Tariff Rule #10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36<br />
Coop Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40<br />
Statement of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42<br />
Simple Pleasures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43<br />
Parting Shot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43<br />
Powerlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44<br />
<strong>2011</strong> NRECA Youth Tour participants from left, Kalei<br />
Groves from Olelo Christian Academy, Amy Niwa from<br />
Kapaa High School, Kristen Sugihara from Kaua‘i High<br />
School, and John Medeiros from Waimea High School.<br />
For more information, see page 26.<br />
Photo by Shana Read.<br />
EDITOR<br />
Anne Barnes<br />
ASSISTANT EDITORS<br />
Maile Moriguchi<br />
Shelley Paik<br />
Pam Blair<br />
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS<br />
Anne Barnes<br />
Paul Daniels<br />
JessikaLyn Garcia<br />
Karissa Jonas<br />
Carey Koide<br />
John Medeiros<br />
Maile Moriguchi<br />
Amy Niwa<br />
Shelley Paik<br />
Steve Rymsha<br />
Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian<br />
Kathryn Williams<br />
Only active KIUC members will be mailed KIUC Currents. KIUC Currents can be<br />
found online at www.kiuc.coop under Member Information and Currents on<br />
the website.<br />
KIUC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
4 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Claurino Bueno<br />
ENERGY SERVICES<br />
QMARP<br />
After electric water heating, refrigerators are<br />
the secondhighest consuming appliance in a<br />
home. Improvements in the efficiency of<br />
refrigerators have increased significantly, largely<br />
due to government mandates. In 1972, the<br />
average refrigerator used more than 1,800<br />
kilowatthours (kWh) a year. Thanks to new<br />
standards for refrigerators set in 2000, they<br />
average less than 500 kWh a year.<br />
The Qualified Member Appliance Rebate<br />
Program (QMARP) was developed to help<br />
qualifying lowincome seniors (age 60+) reduce<br />
their residential energy use by replacing older, less<br />
efficient appliances with new, more efficient ones<br />
at no cost to the participant.<br />
The program demonstrates KIUC’s commitment<br />
to the Kaua‘i community and the pursuit of energy<br />
efficiency. It may not make economic sense to<br />
install a solar water heater for a small family with<br />
one or two people in the household. However,<br />
replacing an older refrigerator makes perfect<br />
economic sense.<br />
Judith Graf of Wailua, received her new Maytag refrigerator May <strong>2011</strong> thanks to KIUC’s QMARP program.
KIUC also provides an energy evaluation for the<br />
rest of the home. That may qualify members to<br />
receive compact fluorescent light bulbs, energyefficient<br />
showerheads, a water heater tank wrap<br />
and faucet aerators at no cost, if they are needed.<br />
KIUC takes a broad approach. Once at the<br />
house, coop staff tries to accomplish as much as<br />
possible to maximize the use of time and<br />
minimize the member’s bill.<br />
KIUC partners with the County of Kaua‘i Office<br />
of Elderly Affairs on the program. The county<br />
performs the “intake,” verifying the applicant’s<br />
age and income, and provides referrals for the<br />
program. It is the first point of contact, and the<br />
partnership has worked well. The county has<br />
experienced outreach consultants who are aware<br />
of many resources and programs that may benefit<br />
Kaua‘i’s seniors, including the QMARP.<br />
Hidden somewhat out of sight at the north<br />
end of Kapa’a, at 1465C Kuhio Highway, you<br />
can find Epic Hair Boutique.<br />
Owned and operated by Darci Furtado,<br />
Kaua‘i's newest hair boutique features Aveda<br />
concept salon products and specializes in cuts,<br />
colors, weddings and much more. The people at<br />
Epic make each guest feel comfortable,<br />
welcomed and relaxed.<br />
Darci said they are passionate about what<br />
they do, and are aligned with Aveda’s vision of<br />
connecting beauty and well being.<br />
Darci is assisted by two stylists, Crystal<br />
Jefferson and Heidi Rodriguez. Like Darci, both<br />
are Aveda trained and certified.<br />
This energetic girl was born and raised on<br />
Kaua‘i, graduating from Kapa’a High School. She<br />
was trained and certified at the The Paul<br />
Mitchell School in Costa Mesa, California. Her<br />
salon opened in February 2010.<br />
QMARP Eligibility<br />
■ Potential recipient must be on the residential rate schedule.<br />
■ Homeowner must be 60 years or older.<br />
■ Household must meet federal poverty income guidelines for the<br />
program year. Income eligibility will be based on total gross<br />
household income from all sources.<br />
■ Refrigerator replaced must be a minimum of 11 years old and be the<br />
primary refrigerator. Existing unit will be removed from the residence<br />
at no cost by KIUC.<br />
For more information, please call the County of Kaua‘i Office of Elderly<br />
Affairs or KIUC’s Energy Services at 246.8280 or 246.8287.<br />
By Paul Daniels<br />
A Picture’s Worth...<br />
Darci came in contact with KIUC’s Energy<br />
Wise Program because she thought she needed<br />
a way to reduce her overall energy bill. Kamuela<br />
Gomes, owner of <strong>Island</strong> Window Tinting and a<br />
KIUC trade ally, helped her reduce the impact<br />
of the hot afternoon sun on her air<br />
conditioning. Darci also received a free energy<br />
audit, which identified additional energy<br />
savings opportunities. As a result, Epic Hair<br />
qualified for assistance to install not only the<br />
window tinting, but new LED track lighting also.<br />
Darci reports the tinting and new lights have<br />
made a big difference on cooling her salon.<br />
Good luck, Darci, and thanks for helping<br />
Kaua‘i reduce its energy demand.<br />
If you have a<br />
business, large or<br />
small, and want to<br />
participate in the<br />
Commercial Energy<br />
Wise Program, call<br />
Paul Daniels at<br />
246.8275.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 5
By Ray Mierta<br />
Resurgence in Heat Pump Water<br />
Heating Technology<br />
KIUC announces availability of rebate for heat pump water heating<br />
6 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
We all know how good a long hot shower can<br />
feel after a tough day at work or a long day at the<br />
beach.<br />
The modern “automatic water heater” makes<br />
hot water available and a hot shower possible at<br />
all times of the day or night with just a turn of the<br />
wrist. The first water heater dates to 1870 in<br />
England. It wasn’t efficient and could be<br />
dangerous, since there were no temperature<br />
controls and it was unpressurized, but it beat<br />
trekking down to the nearest hot springs, if one<br />
was available, or burning wood or some other<br />
combustible material to heat water for a bath. Not<br />
much is known about that invention, but the first<br />
storage water heater dates to 1889. A Norwegian<br />
immigrant invented the first commercially<br />
available water heater in Pennsylvania. Edwin<br />
Rudd designed the first of what would later<br />
become the modern storage water heater. While<br />
there still may be a few wood heaters around that<br />
were common on the plantations, and at one time<br />
there were diesel fueled heaters on Kaua‘i, most<br />
of the water on the island is heated with<br />
electricity and solar. About one third of the homes<br />
on Kaua‘i have solar water heating. The average<br />
all electric home on Kaua‘i spends up to half of its<br />
monthly electric use on heating water.<br />
Kukui Grove First Fridays at the Mall<br />
<strong>2011</strong> light bulb exchange dates:<br />
<strong>August</strong> 5 ■ September 2 ■ October 7<br />
November 4 ■ December 2
An alternative is a hybrid design—a heat pump<br />
water heater—that uses a combination of<br />
electricity and warm air (energy) removed from<br />
the environment to heat water.<br />
On the mainland, heat pump technology is used<br />
within a single unit to provide both heating and<br />
cooling to a home. On Kaua‘i, heat pumps are best<br />
used for heating water. There are an<br />
undetermined number of heat pump water<br />
heaters on Kaua‘i.<br />
The technology here suffered from poor<br />
product design, resulting in questionable<br />
reliability, and a lack of understanding about how<br />
the units operated. Although they are installed by<br />
a plumber and the installation is similar to a<br />
conventional electric water heater, maintenance,<br />
troubleshooting and repair service were<br />
nonexistent. That is changing.<br />
Energy prices are remaining high and for longer<br />
periods of time, bringing a renewed interest to<br />
heat pump water heating technology. The heat<br />
pump industry use to consist of small regional<br />
manufacturers without the ability to widely<br />
distribute product or provide service and repairs.<br />
Recently, large corporations such as Rheem and<br />
General Electric have taken an interest in this<br />
water heating technology and want to expand<br />
availability and provide support services.<br />
Energy Star has created efficiency standards for<br />
heat pump water heaters. Only Rheem and<br />
General Electric have received Energy Star<br />
certification. Both manufacturers supply a 10year<br />
parts warranty for their product.<br />
How It Works<br />
Generally, it is easier to move something than it<br />
is to create it. In basic terms, a heat pump water<br />
heater works like a standard refrigeration unit—an<br />
air conditioner or refrigerator—but in reverse,<br />
heating water up to 140 degrees.<br />
As long as the average ambient air temperature<br />
stays above 50 degrees—not a problem on<br />
Kaua‘i— it is less expensive to heat water with a<br />
heat pump water heater than a standard electric<br />
water heater.<br />
Estimated Savings<br />
A standard electric water heater can use about<br />
4,200 kilowatthours (kWh) or about $1,932 a year<br />
in hot water. Based on heat pump technology and<br />
manufacturers’ estimates, the same amount of<br />
water heated with a heat pump water heater will<br />
save about $1,198. That is a 62percent reduction.<br />
The cost of a heat pump water heater is only<br />
slightly higher than a standard 50gallon electric<br />
water heater.<br />
Incentives<br />
The federal government is offering a 30percent<br />
tax credit on the total cost of a Energy Starcertified<br />
heat pump water heater. In addition,<br />
KIUC is offering a $300 rebate incentive for the<br />
purchase of any Energy Star certified heat pump<br />
water heater.<br />
Heat Pump or Solar?<br />
Nothing beats solar. Solar water heating can cut<br />
water heating costs by up to 90 percent. A heat<br />
pump water heater cannot do that, but the price<br />
is much lower than solar water heating, making it<br />
a viable alternative when considering your budget<br />
or when solar is not technically feasible. The ideal<br />
location for a heat pump water heater is a room<br />
10x10x7, or any open area such as a carport or a<br />
garage. If your existing electric water heater is in a<br />
small closet, you may need to add venting to the<br />
closet area so the cool air that is rejected by the<br />
heat pump water heater can dissipate. Your<br />
installing plumber can help with location<br />
requirements.<br />
Where to Buy<br />
Energy Starcertified heat pump water heaters<br />
are available at Sears, Home Depot, and<br />
Fergusons. Visit www.kiuc.coop for more<br />
information regarding availability and for a Heat<br />
Pump Water Heater Rebate Application.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 7
8 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Anne Barnes<br />
COOPERATIVE TECHNOLOGY<br />
Advanced Meters<br />
for Advanced Service<br />
Frequently asked questions about smart meters<br />
If you are a regular reader, you know that In<br />
November 2009, KIUC and 26 other electric<br />
cooperatives from 10 states were awarded a<br />
$33.9 million matching grant from the U.S.<br />
Department of Energy under the American<br />
Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) for Smart<br />
Grid Demonstration Projects. DOE awarded the<br />
National Rural Electric <strong>Cooperative</strong> Association’s<br />
<strong>Cooperative</strong> Research Network half of the<br />
project’s total cost of $67 million to test and<br />
develop technologies that operate together to<br />
make the grid more efficient and reliable. The<br />
cost of KIUC’s project is $11 million, of which $5.5<br />
million is being provided by the ARRA.<br />
As part of the program, KIUC is investing in<br />
new, smart meters to improve the efficiency and<br />
reliability of the electric system. Members have<br />
begun asking questions about these new meters<br />
and how they work. Here are the most common<br />
questions and answers.<br />
How is KIUC’s efficiency improved by<br />
Smart meters?<br />
With remote meter reading and reconnection,<br />
we save time and money. And with more detailed<br />
data about demand and usage we can distribute<br />
power more efficiently.<br />
How will the new technology improve<br />
affordability of electric service?<br />
Operating more efficiently can help minimize<br />
cost increases. We also can use the new data to<br />
help our members address high bills.<br />
How will new smart meters increase<br />
KIUC’s reliability?<br />
New meters help us locate and respond to<br />
outages faster and more safely, and help us<br />
improve power quality, reducing surges and<br />
blinks.<br />
When will my meter be installed?<br />
KIUC anticipates installation for the<br />
demonstration project to begin in 2012. The fiveyear<br />
process will include an expected two years<br />
of installation of new meters at members’ homes<br />
and installing communications infrastructure to<br />
assess smart grid effectiveness, and three years<br />
for data gathering and analysis.<br />
Will I lose electrical service during<br />
the installation?<br />
Yes, for a few minutes. You will need to reset<br />
electronic clocks and other devices.<br />
How does my new automated meter<br />
work?<br />
With these new meters, KIUC will be able to<br />
communicate with each individual meter<br />
remotely from our central office.
Why are we changing to the<br />
automated meters?<br />
The meter upgrade provides KIUC members<br />
with numerous benefits:<br />
■ Accuracy—fewer read errors<br />
■ Fewer estimated bills<br />
■ Billing date flexibility<br />
■ Monitor energy consumption<br />
■ Improved power quality<br />
■ Faster outage restoration<br />
■ Potential energy savings<br />
How much is this going to cost?<br />
There will be no additional cost to the member<br />
to install the new system. No rate increase is<br />
anticipated in association with this project.<br />
Following the installation, members will receive a<br />
bill with two readings: one for the old meter and<br />
one for the new meter.<br />
What other additional installation<br />
parts will I need?<br />
No additional parts are anticipated or required.<br />
However, if something is identified as faulty or<br />
hazardous with a member’s equipment, the coop<br />
will replace it.<br />
Who will be changing out the meters?<br />
We anticipate employees and members from a<br />
vendor team will be changing the meters.<br />
Do members have a choice in getting<br />
a new meter?<br />
The plan is to install new meters on all<br />
accounts. The cooperative is embarking on a<br />
systemwide program that will change all existing<br />
residential and commercial meters to acquire<br />
more accurate information, without the need to<br />
enter a member’s property.<br />
Currently, if members have a question about<br />
their energy usage, the cooperative must send<br />
operations personnel to the member/owner’s<br />
property to reread the meter. With the new<br />
system, customer service representatives can<br />
access the meter information and obtain the<br />
reading almost instantaneously.<br />
The new system will give the cooperative<br />
frequent meter readings, instead of monthly<br />
readings. The new system also will provide new<br />
data that will enable KIUC to monitor the system<br />
better and correct inefficiencies.<br />
But what if I REALLY don’t want<br />
a new meter?<br />
While the plan is to install new meters on all<br />
accounts, KIUC management and the board are<br />
discussing an optout program. If the decision is<br />
made to move forward with this option, there will<br />
be a cost associated with a member’s decision not<br />
to receive a new smart meter.<br />
What is the difference between the<br />
new meters and the old meters?<br />
The new meters are equipped with a twoway<br />
communications module and the ability to<br />
communicate with our central office computer<br />
system. The existing meters were either an<br />
electromechanical device or an older digital<br />
device.<br />
Will I keep the same rate after<br />
the conversion?<br />
Yes, members will continue to stay on the same<br />
rate class as they have in the past.<br />
What if my bill reports more kWh<br />
usage than normal or I think my meter<br />
is not working correctly?<br />
Contact the KIUC office right away at 246.4300<br />
to discuss your billing concerns. Electronic meters<br />
are more accurate than analog or mechanical<br />
meters. The new meters installed have been<br />
tested and meet American National Standards<br />
Institute regulations.<br />
Will meter readers ever need to come<br />
to read the meter onsite again once the<br />
new meter is in place?<br />
Probably not. Meter readers no longer will<br />
regularly need to spend valuable time traveling to<br />
every meter for a monthly read. All meter reads<br />
will be digitally transmitted back to coop<br />
headquarters.<br />
What information does the new<br />
meter record?<br />
The new meter records an electronic kWh<br />
reading, the date and time of energy usage, the<br />
overall peak demand of the electric account, if the<br />
meter has rotated backwards, and the number of<br />
times the meter has experienced a loss of power<br />
for any reason. In fact, the meter will record the<br />
date and time of light blinks and the length of a<br />
power outage.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 9
KIUC INCLUDED IN OBAMA<br />
ADMINISTRATION’S RELEASE<br />
OF ‘A POLICY FRAMEWORK<br />
FOR THE 21ST CENTURY GRID<br />
KIUC President and CEO David Bissell was invited to Washington, D.C.,<br />
for the unveiling of the Obama Administration’s grid modernization<br />
event. “A Policy Framework for the 21st Century Grid: Enabling Our<br />
Secure Energy Future” includes KIUC as a case study for a battery energy<br />
storage system and implementing demand response to support solar<br />
generation. The report highlights the opportunities a modernized electric<br />
system provides for America. It can be found at<br />
www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/pressroom/0613<strong>2011</strong>.<br />
10 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
What day of the month will the<br />
meters be read?<br />
All of the coop’s new meters can be read at a<br />
variety of times to obtain a history of account<br />
information. However, for billing purposes,<br />
member bills will be read on monthly schedules.<br />
Once coop employees no longer<br />
need to read the meter, can obstacles<br />
be constructed that may make the<br />
meter inaccessible?<br />
No. Reasonable access to equipment still must<br />
be maintained. This allows for cooperative<br />
personnel to either read or maintain the meter, if<br />
necessary, at reasonable times.<br />
How will the coop read the meters?<br />
The cooperative’s computer will communicate<br />
with the substationinstalled equipment, which<br />
sends a request for one or more meter readings.<br />
The meter reading is sent back to the coop via a<br />
secure network.<br />
Will someone other than the coop be<br />
able to read the new meter?<br />
It is unlikely. Meter manufacturers are<br />
incorporating security features and encryption<br />
technology into their meters, as recommended by<br />
national security experts. KIUC’s goal is to upgrade<br />
the electric distribution system to make it safer,<br />
more secure and more reliable. Your new digital<br />
meter is part of this effort. Once your new digital<br />
meter is installed, your cooperative will be able to<br />
tell if someone “tampers” with your meter<br />
because the meter will report any tampering<br />
attempts to the cooperative.<br />
Are there potential health impacts<br />
from a meter that can receive and<br />
send data?<br />
The simple answer is “no,” but like any new<br />
technology, smart grid technology is triggering<br />
concerns among a small segment of consumers.<br />
KIUC is vigorously committed to the safety of its<br />
members, and will make it a priority to address<br />
any concerns in the months to come.<br />
Research conducted by the Electric Power<br />
Research Institute, the Utilities Telecom Council<br />
and others has revealed no health impacts from<br />
digital meters. The radio frequencies emitted by<br />
digital meters fall well below the maximum<br />
recommended in federal guidelines. Compare this<br />
activity to a laptop with a wireless connection,<br />
which is constantly sending and retrieving data.<br />
A digital meter equipped to send and receive<br />
data has an RF density hundreds of times less<br />
than the RF density of a cell phones—and the<br />
meters are installed on the outside of your house,<br />
not next to your ear.<br />
Will the coop continue to do service<br />
inspections?<br />
Routine inspections of all meters and services<br />
will continue to look for safety hazards, theft or<br />
other problems.<br />
How secure will the new meters be?<br />
The meter display is visible for members to<br />
check their consumption. All other information<br />
and data stored in the meter is secure and the<br />
meter is sealed.<br />
Can the cooperative disconnect electric<br />
service using the new meters?<br />
Yes, meters can have remote disconnect<br />
capabilities.<br />
Will the new meter notify the coop<br />
when the power goes out?<br />
Yes. The meters will be able to record outages,<br />
allowing the cooperative to identify outages to<br />
individual households immediately.<br />
Will the coop notify me prior<br />
to installation?<br />
Yes. KIUC will send out installation schedules.<br />
How will I know if my meter has<br />
been changed?<br />
The coop employee or contractor will leave a<br />
door hanger on your front door to let you know<br />
they have changed the meter. KIUC will work with<br />
businesses to minimize any inconvenience. You do<br />
not have to be present during the meter change.<br />
If you have other questions or concerns, please contact Anne Barnes at the coop, 246.4300. Upcoming issues of KIUC Currents will continue to<br />
inform you on the progress of the program. Please see additional information at www.kiucrenewablesolutions.coop.
On July 18, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (A&B)<br />
and Kaua‘i <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Utility</strong> <strong>Cooperative</strong> jointly<br />
announced plans for a 6megawatt utilityscale<br />
solar (photovoltaic) facility on Kaua‘i’s sunny<br />
south shore.<br />
A subsidiary of A&B will be the developer and<br />
operator of the facility, and will sell the power to<br />
KIUC under a 20year, fixedrate power purchase<br />
agreement (PPA) signed by the parties. The<br />
proposed facility—which is contingent on state and<br />
county approvals—would be built on a 20acre,<br />
industrialzoned parcel of land owned by A&B<br />
adjacent to KIUC’s Port Allen Generating Station.<br />
The site is located in one of the highest solar<br />
radiation regions on Kaua‘i.<br />
Pending county and state regulatory approvals,<br />
construction is expected to begin in late <strong>2011</strong>,<br />
with completion before the end of 2012.<br />
“A&B is pleased to increase its production of<br />
clean energy on Kaua‘i through this investment,<br />
and to help achieve KIUC’s renewable energy<br />
goals,” said Christopher J. Benjamin, A&B’s chief<br />
financial officer, who also oversees A&B’s<br />
agribusiness unit and energyrelated initiatives.<br />
“Our company’s centurylong commitment to<br />
generating renewable energy for Kaua‘i’s residents<br />
and businesses dates to the very origins of<br />
McBryde Sugar Company through the operation<br />
of our hydroelectric facilities at Kalaheo and<br />
Wainiha, which currently generate about 5 MW of<br />
electricity for KIUC,” he explained.<br />
“We are excited to think that A&B will soon be<br />
capable of generating a total of 11 MW of clean,<br />
renewable energy on Kaua‘i, and we look forward<br />
to expanding our collaborative relationship with<br />
KIUC to explore additional renewable energy<br />
opportunities.”<br />
A&B already is among the state’s largest<br />
providers of renewable energy, generated by<br />
hydroelectric facilities on both Maui and Kaua‘i<br />
and biomassfueled cogeneration on Maui.<br />
KIUC President & CEO David Bissell said, “A&B’s<br />
facility, which would be the largest solar<br />
generation facility on Kaua‘i when completed,<br />
underscores KIUC’s progress in the solar arena.<br />
Alexander & Baldwin<br />
and KIUC Announce<br />
Largest Solar Facility on Kaua‘i<br />
<strong>Island</strong> to benefit From clean, renewable energy under 20year, fixedrate contract<br />
When coupled with an existing 1MW facility at<br />
Kapa‘a and a planned 3MW facility at Poipu, KIUC<br />
will likely have the highest percentage of solar PV<br />
on its system anywhere in the country.<br />
“This project means KIUC members will benefit<br />
for the next two decades from clean, renewable<br />
solar energy at a fixed price below our current<br />
cost of generation and not tied to oil. This is truly<br />
a winwin situation for the Kaua‘i community and<br />
underscores our ability to work with landowners<br />
to make these kinds of projects happen.”<br />
“With these solar projects placed in service, and<br />
with the completion of previously announced<br />
projects, we anticipate that KIUC’s renewable<br />
energy portfolio will meet more than 20 percent<br />
of Kaua‘i’s annual energy needs,” said KIUC Board<br />
Chairman Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian. “We continue to<br />
believe that our portfolio approach emphasizing<br />
multiple technologies—including solar,<br />
hydropower, and biomass generation—is the best<br />
path to meeting our goal of becoming 50 percent<br />
renewable by 2023.”<br />
As currently planned, the 6 MW polycrystalline<br />
panel solar facility will be integrated with a<br />
battery energy storage system (BESS) installed by<br />
KIUC at the point of interconnection to the grid.<br />
The BESS will facilitate greater stability on the<br />
KIUC system by maintaining a predictable flow of<br />
power from the Port Allen solar facility and other<br />
intermittent generation resources.<br />
Additional information about the proposed<br />
project will be provided to KIUC’s members at the<br />
cooperative’s quarterly update meetings, while<br />
A&B will seek additional community feedback at<br />
an EleeleHanapepePort Allen meeting to be<br />
scheduled later this summer.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 11
On the Way to Waiahi<br />
A Pictorial<br />
Instrument and control electricians take<br />
readings monthly at Blue Hole and Waikoko<br />
for the Waiahi hydros. The readings are stored<br />
in little probes that are downloaded onto<br />
computers for data collection.<br />
12 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
Blue Hole<br />
By Shelley Paik<br />
On the right the public notice sign at the<br />
Blue Hole Diversion reads, "Please do not<br />
modify this stream diversion or tamper with<br />
the position of the gates in any way. The<br />
water is being diverted in order to provide<br />
green energy for the people of Kaua‘i."<br />
Above the upstream of the Blue Hole diversion from the Wailua<br />
North Fork Stream. Blue Hole is the first diversion of water to<br />
the Waiahi Hydros.<br />
Above, the Blue Hole diversion leads to an<br />
overflow weir and a stilling chamber (a flow<br />
meter probe is located inside black pipe). This<br />
stilling chamber is where water is monitored for<br />
temperature and levels every 15 minutes so KIUC<br />
can determine how much water is being diverted<br />
to the Waiahi Hydros. Josh Rapanot, KIUC<br />
Apprentice I&C electrician, takes readings at the<br />
Blue Hole probe. Josh first conducted a manual<br />
reading before he dowloaded the data to his<br />
laptop. After the download, another manual<br />
reading was taken off the staff gauge on the side<br />
of the pipe (or stilling well).
Above, the Blue Hole diversion water enters the<br />
tunnel moving water to Waikoko stream.<br />
Above, water from the tunnel ends up here, at the Waikoko stream<br />
diversion, where many people enjoy swimming in the cool water.<br />
Left, the blue Hole diversion overflow weir.<br />
Above, the Waikoko stream diversion.<br />
Above, Josh takes readings at the Waikoko Tunnel<br />
diversion. This flow now is an accumulation of Blue<br />
Hole and Waikoko stream diversion waters heading<br />
toward the Waiahi hydros through tunnels and<br />
open ditches.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 13
14 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Anne Barnes<br />
DLNR Supports Hydro Exploration<br />
On June 29, KIUC received a statement of<br />
support for its exploration of new, small<br />
hydroelectric development from the Hawai‘i<br />
Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).<br />
KIUC has been in consultation with DLNR and<br />
other state agencies and elected officials as a part<br />
of its ongoing outreach efforts as the cooperative<br />
evaluates the viability of hydropower on Kaua‘i.<br />
“The state supports renewable and<br />
hydroelectric energy projects and encourages the<br />
Kaua‘i community to move forward in studying<br />
the island's hydroelectric potential,” said Deborah<br />
Ward, DNLR information specialist.<br />
The statement voiced concern regarding the<br />
potential use of the Federal Energy Regulatory<br />
Commission (FERC) to “license” projects at the<br />
construction phase of development, but<br />
recognized that KIUC thus far has not filed any<br />
license applications.<br />
While KIUC has discussed these concerns with<br />
state officials, the cooperative is committed to<br />
working out with state agencies the best process<br />
that ensures protecting state resources and KIUC’s<br />
first right to develop projects deemed feasible<br />
after completion of extensive, mandatory<br />
community outreach and cultural, environmental,<br />
and agricultural impact studies.<br />
“The decision whether or not to use the FERC<br />
licensing process will not be made for a year or<br />
more," said David Bissell, KIUC president and CEO.<br />
" We remain committed to engaging state<br />
agencies, officials, our members, and community<br />
in a dialogue to define the optimal process for<br />
responsible hydroelectric power development.”<br />
DNLR’s statement concluded, “State officials<br />
have discussed these concerns with the Kaua‘i<br />
<strong>Island</strong> <strong>Utility</strong> <strong>Cooperative</strong> and acknowledge that<br />
the utility to date has made no commitment to<br />
seek a federal license.”<br />
For a complete copy of DNLR’s statement,<br />
please go to www.kiucrenewablesolutions.coop.<br />
Bissell said DNLR’s statement is consistent with<br />
the cooperative’s commitment to responsible<br />
hydroelectric power development—in particular,<br />
the board of director’s April 18, <strong>2011</strong>, resolution.<br />
It reads, in part, that KIUC will always:<br />
■ Recognize the legitimacy and priority of the<br />
cultural, diversified agricultural, hunting,<br />
fishing, tourism, and recreational needs of<br />
Kaua‘i, using only the remaining water flow<br />
after such considerations for hydro.<br />
■ Recognize that sufficient stream flow must be<br />
maintained for adequate habitat for affected<br />
aquatic and terrestrial species.<br />
■ Get direct input from any and all interested<br />
parties and include their concerns and<br />
objectives in any preliminary designs for a<br />
hydro project.<br />
■ Include ongoing online access for community<br />
members’ hydro questions, with answers<br />
posted on a publicly accessible website.<br />
■ Continue to get direct input to consider<br />
whether further design modifications are<br />
needed to meet the objectives of any<br />
interested parties once a design for a hydro<br />
project is proposed.<br />
■ Recognize that stakeholder involvement may<br />
require meetings, forums and other feedback<br />
resources that exceed any procedural<br />
requirements of governmental bodies.
KIUC Membership Approves Board<br />
Decision on Free Flow Power<br />
On July 8, certified results in the Kaua‘i <strong>Island</strong><br />
<strong>Utility</strong> <strong>Cooperative</strong> ballot initiative confirmed the<br />
KIUC Board of Directors’ decision to engage Free<br />
Flow Power (FFP) to help the cooperative explore<br />
the potential for new, small hydropower on Kaua‘i.<br />
The yes vote prevailed, with 5,404 or 72 percent<br />
of members voting yes and 2,098 or 28 percent<br />
voting no.<br />
The independent election management<br />
consultant, Merriman River Group, certified the<br />
results of member ballots. Merriman River Group<br />
has managed the counting and certification of<br />
KIUC’s board elections since 2009. Observers of<br />
the ballot count included a representative of the<br />
petitioners.<br />
“We would like to say mahalo to the hundreds<br />
of community members who came out to our<br />
public meetings and actively participated in KIUC’s<br />
outreach process,” said KIUC Chairman Teofilo<br />
“Phil” Tacbian. “We take to heart all of your<br />
comments, both supportive and critical, and we<br />
look forward to continuing to reach out to the<br />
entire Kaua‘i community as we explore<br />
hydropower for our island.”<br />
KIUC President and CEO David Bissell said the<br />
cooperative was in the process of scheduling its<br />
next round of regular quarterly meetings.<br />
“We look forward to further discussing the role<br />
that hydropower and other renewables play in<br />
achieving our strategic plan goals of reaching at<br />
least 50 percent renewable supplied power for<br />
Kaua‘i,” he said. “Receiving input from all Kaua‘i<br />
stakeholders, KIUC members, state and local<br />
leaders, and those that have concerns about our<br />
hydropower evaluation alike, will be an essential<br />
component of our continued assessment of<br />
hydropower resources on Kaua‘i.”<br />
Continued Tacbian, “We are grateful for the<br />
support our members have shown, and we remain<br />
committed to the principals outlined in our board<br />
resolution passed in April which mandates<br />
continued longterm outreach efforts, while<br />
considering agricultural, cultural, recreational and<br />
environmental interests in our evaluation of<br />
hydropower’s potential on Kaua‘i. We look<br />
forward to engaging in a process to determine the<br />
blueprint for how responsible hydropower<br />
development can be determined for Kaua‘i.”<br />
Bissell added, “We continue to believe that<br />
KIUC’s low cost of capital, taxexempt and nonprofit<br />
status provides the best and lowestcost<br />
structure for hydropower development. As a<br />
memberowned cooperative with a board elected<br />
by the members, KIUC’s evaluation criteria will<br />
always be based on what is best for Kaua‘i,<br />
without a profit motive interfering with that<br />
ultimate responsibility.”<br />
VOTE<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 15
16 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Kathryn Williams<br />
KIUC Petition Signature<br />
Validation Process<br />
When KIUC receives a petition from the membership, the validation of signatures on the<br />
petition is required. If the member is an account holder of an active account, he or she is<br />
considered to be a member in good standing. The validation process is as follows:<br />
I. Valid Signatures<br />
A signature is considered to be valid if the<br />
petitioner is the customer of record on an active<br />
electric account and has subscribed to<br />
membership in the cooperative.<br />
Based on the information provided by the<br />
petitioner, the following sequential steps are<br />
taken to validate each signature:<br />
Account Number<br />
■ If an account number has been provided, the<br />
name on the petition is matched with the<br />
name on an account.<br />
■ If the names are the same or one is a<br />
derivative of the other (“Bob” instead of<br />
“Robert”) and the account is active, the<br />
signature is considered to be valid.<br />
Name Search<br />
■ If no account number has been provided, the<br />
name on the petition is used to search for an<br />
account.<br />
■ If the name is found, any additional<br />
information provided on the petition, such as<br />
phone number and/or address, is used to<br />
confirm account ownership.<br />
■ If the name and account information provided<br />
can be verified, the signature is considered to<br />
be valid.<br />
Address/Phone Number Search<br />
■ If there is no account number and the name is<br />
only partially legible, the address or phone<br />
number provided is used to search for an<br />
account.<br />
■ If an account is found, the name on that<br />
account must be recognizable as the same on<br />
the petition.<br />
■ If the name and account information can be<br />
verified, the signature is considered to be<br />
valid.<br />
II. Invalid Signatures<br />
If the name of a petitioner cannot be verified<br />
after all possible searches, the signature is<br />
considered to be invalid.<br />
Spouses of account holders are not members<br />
and, as such, their signatures are not valid.<br />
A validated signature is counted only once,<br />
regardless of the number of active accounts held<br />
by the petitioner.<br />
The signature of an account holder of an<br />
inactive account is not valid.<br />
III. Undetermined<br />
If a signature cannot be adequately validated by<br />
account, name, address, and/or phone number—<br />
i.e., the service address and account number are<br />
valid, but the name of the account holder and the<br />
signature are not a reasonable match—it is<br />
determined to be a “maybe.”<br />
In the case where the number of undetermined<br />
signatures impacts the validity of the petition,<br />
KIUC will attempt to contact the petitioner by<br />
phone to validate the name and signature.<br />
IV. Access to Petition Names<br />
Due to privacy concerns, copies of petitions<br />
received by KIUC will not be provided for<br />
inspection by other members or the general<br />
public. Any petition that includes personal<br />
information will always be held in strictest<br />
confidence Members’ expectation of privacy will<br />
be respected.
By Claurino Bueno<br />
Customer Generation<br />
Rate Comparison Offering<br />
KIUC offers three interconnection schedules for alternative energy sources. Net Energy Metering<br />
(NEM), Schedule Q, and the NEM Pilot are the three interconnection schedules currently available. This<br />
table will help KIUC members differentiate, compare and understand, the different schedules. For<br />
additional information, please contact KIUC’s Energy Services at 246.8280 or 246.8287.<br />
Schedule Details /<br />
Function<br />
Eligible Customer<br />
Generator<br />
Metering & Bill Rendering<br />
NEM<br />
Permanent<br />
customer<br />
1 Calendaryear<br />
January 1 to<br />
December 31<br />
Schedule “Q”<br />
Modified<br />
Permanent<br />
customer<br />
2 Calendar year<br />
Januaryֶ 1 to<br />
December 31<br />
NEM Pilot Description—Options<br />
Permanent<br />
customer<br />
3 Calendar year<br />
January, 1 to<br />
December 31<br />
Annual Credits No Yes Yes<br />
Rate<br />
Agreement,<br />
Interconnection<br />
Requirements & Process<br />
Duration of Agreement/<br />
Contract Term<br />
Maximum Generator<br />
Capacity Allowed<br />
(Duration of Offering)<br />
Maximum Aggregate<br />
Generation Allowed<br />
1 Retail rates<br />
2 Avoided cost<br />
based<br />
3 $0.20 kWh<br />
exported to KIUC<br />
at a 20year term<br />
Required Required Required<br />
N/A N/A 20 years<br />
1 50 kW or less 2 100 kW or less 3 200 kW or less<br />
1 1% of the peak<br />
demand of the<br />
preceeding year<br />
Risk Profile Current rates<br />
2 No limit<br />
Avoided cost<br />
based<br />
3 3 MW or<br />
3year pilot<br />
$0.20 kWh<br />
20year term<br />
Permanent customers of KIUC who own (or lease from<br />
a third party) and operate (or contract to operate with a third<br />
party) a solar, wind turbine, biomass, or hydroelectric<br />
energy generating facility, or a hybrid system.<br />
1 Bills will be based on the rate schedule otherwise applicable to<br />
the customer as a nonnet metered customer. The monthly<br />
carryover credit shall be reconciled every 12 months. Any credit<br />
for excess electricity that remains unused at the end of the<br />
12month reconciliation period may not be carried over to the<br />
next 12month reconciliation period. 2/3 For any unused credits<br />
that remain at the end of the calendar year, the participant will<br />
have until January 31 of the following year to submit a written<br />
notice to either continue to carry over the unused credits or<br />
request for payment for any unused credits.<br />
1 The rate is based on the average cost of energy, and includes<br />
the energy charge and base rate adjustments, such as the<br />
resource cost adjustment surcharge and the energy rate<br />
adjustment clause, but excludes the monthly customer charge/<br />
minimum charge and any demand charge. 2 Rates are based<br />
on the avoided fuel cost and system efficiency (heat rate).<br />
3 Fixed at the rate of $0.20 per kWh for a 20year term.<br />
1 In the NEM option, 50% will be allocated to systems whose size<br />
is 10kW or smaller and the remaining 50% will be allocated to<br />
systems whose size is greater than 10kW, but no greater than<br />
50kW. 2 Schedule “Q” Modified does not have a maximum limit<br />
in allowable aggregate generation. 3 The NEM Pilot program is<br />
a threeyear pilot program. Facilities with a capacity of<br />
50kW to 200 kW will be limited to 2MW.<br />
Facilities with a capacity of less than 50 kW but more than<br />
10 kW and facilities with 10 kW or less will be limited to 0.5 MW<br />
each. Availability is based on a maximum generation capacity in<br />
aggregate of 3 MW or the end of the threeyear pilot.<br />
The rates for both NEM and Schedule “Q” Modified<br />
are affected by current fuel cost. The fluctuation of fuel<br />
prices directly affects rates for both NEM and Schedule<br />
“Q” Modified. The NEM Pilot participants are locked into<br />
a $0.20 per kWh for a term of 20 years.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 17
Effects of Lightning<br />
18 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By JessikaLyn Garcia<br />
We have all been shaken by a bad thunderstorm.<br />
We have seen the big white strikes in the eerie dark<br />
sky, and even though we may have experienced<br />
times like these, many of us do not understand the<br />
science of lightning.<br />
Lightning is produced by the mixture and<br />
collisions of ice crystals in the higher part of the<br />
thunderstorm, and hail and raindrops in the lower<br />
part. When the lighter ice crystals become<br />
positively charged, they are carried into the higher<br />
parts of the cloud. At the same time, heavier hail<br />
and rain gathers to form a negative charge and fall<br />
toward the lower part of the cloud.<br />
Normally, the earth’s surface has a slight<br />
negative charge. However, as the negative charges<br />
in the lower part of the cloud build up, the ground<br />
directly below the cloud and its surrounding<br />
locations become positively charged.<br />
Air usually acts as an insulator between the<br />
differing charges. But when the electrical charges<br />
between the two charges become too great, a<br />
discharge of electricity occurs, creating lightning.<br />
Lightning and Electrical Systems<br />
To understand how lightning affects electrical<br />
lines, we first must understand how electricity<br />
travels.<br />
Energy cannot be stored. Therefore, moving<br />
electricity requires packing power as heavily as<br />
possible onto transmission lines. Increasing<br />
electricity’s voltage causes it to move more<br />
efficiently. Substations are “transit” points in this<br />
system, giving it the ability to raise or lower voltage.<br />
While high voltage equals efficient moving of<br />
electricity, if electricity enters your home at too<br />
high a level, electronics could be damaged. That is<br />
what happens when lightning strikes.<br />
Each substation contains an array of equipment,<br />
including transformers, lightning arrestors, circuit<br />
breakers and insulators. Transformers perform the<br />
heavy work, altering voltage as needed.<br />
Power blinks are created when a breaker, or<br />
switch, opens along any portion of the power<br />
system. Breakers usually open because of a large,<br />
quick rise of electrical current. Large rises,<br />
commonly known as a fault condition, can occur<br />
when a tree branch touches a line, lightning<br />
strikes or a wire breaks.<br />
When such a fault condition happens, a relay<br />
senses it and tells the breaker to open, preventing<br />
the flow of power to the problem site. After<br />
quickly opening, the breaker closes. A brief<br />
delay—or power blink—allows the fault to clear.<br />
Typically, that lasts less than two seconds.
10+ Ways to Stay Safe During a<br />
Thunderstorm<br />
How do you stay safe during a thunderstorm?<br />
Here are a few tips to ensure your safety:<br />
1) Plan ahead. If thunderstorms are in the<br />
forecast, consider rescheduling your<br />
outdoor activities. Having a portable NOAA<br />
weather radio will alert you to changes in<br />
the weather.<br />
2) Watch the sky. Make sure you, or a team<br />
leader, monitor weather conditions. This is<br />
extremely important if you need time to get<br />
to a safe place.<br />
3) Coaches and officials need a safety plan.<br />
Outdoor events are prone to lightning<br />
strikes. If you or your children take part in<br />
outdoor recreational activities, make sure<br />
leaders have specific guidelines for<br />
postponing outdoor activities BEFORE a<br />
thunderstorm approaches. The safety of the<br />
community must be the priority.<br />
4) When thunder roars, go indoors. When you<br />
are able to hear thunder, remember that<br />
you are close enough to be struck by<br />
lightning even if it is not raining. Get<br />
indoors immediately. Once indoors, stay<br />
there for 30 minutes after hearing the last<br />
rumble of thunder before going back<br />
outside. REMEMBER: The first strike of<br />
lightning may occur very near to you. Keep<br />
an eye on the sky if clouds begin to build<br />
and darken.<br />
5) Get away from water. Stop activities such<br />
as swimming, boating, fishing and camping,<br />
and quickly seek a substantial shelter.<br />
6) Avoid contact with corded phones. Phone<br />
use is the leading cause of indoor lightning<br />
injuries in the United States. Cordless<br />
phones are safe, as long as lightning does<br />
not strike you while you are removing the<br />
phone from its charging cradle. Cell phones<br />
are the safest method of communication.<br />
7) Stay away from windows and exterior<br />
doors. Windows and doors provide a path<br />
for a direct strike to enter a home.<br />
8) Stay off of porches and decks. Although a<br />
porch or deck may be covered, it does not<br />
offer the same protection as a house or<br />
other substantial building.<br />
9) Avoid contact with electrical equipment or<br />
cords. If you plan to unplug any electronic<br />
equipment, do so well before the storm<br />
arrives. Do not forget to disconnect<br />
televisions and radios from outdoor<br />
antennas.<br />
10) Stay away from plumbing and plumbing<br />
appliances. Avoid contact with pipes,<br />
dishwashers, washing machines and electric<br />
water heaters, which use both water and<br />
electricity. Also, do not take a shower or<br />
bath during a thunderstorm.<br />
11) Be alert for direct lightning strikes. If your<br />
home or a neighbor’s home is directly struck<br />
by lightning, call the fire department<br />
immediately. Be sure to have the electrical<br />
wiring in your home inspected by a qualified<br />
electrical contractor as soon as possible.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 19
Renewable Outlook<br />
KIUC’s update on projects in progress and completed<br />
20 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Steve Rymsha<br />
KIUC believes the climate change problem and its feared effects are among the most serious of the<br />
environmental issues we face today. As we transition away from fossil fuels, members also benefit from<br />
decoupling electricity generation costs from the volatility in world oil supplies and price. To that end, the board<br />
and management of the coop have updated KIUC ’s Strategic Plan to achieve a high standard of sustainability<br />
with regard to power supply, and provide fair and competitively valued rates. What follows is a concise recap of<br />
actions taken, and projects in progress and completed. We currently are operating at more than 13 percent<br />
renewable, but in the next few years are taking action to surpass state and federal requirements to reduce<br />
greenhouse gases. Kaua‘i’s eight hydroelectric power plants provide a steady flow of electricity to KIUC.<br />
Hydro<br />
1/12/11 KIUC signed a memorandum of agreement with Free Flow Power Corp., which will allow the two firms to<br />
jointly explore development of hydroelectric energy projects on Kaua‘i. “This is the first step in a lengthy public<br />
process to explore the viability of several hydroelectric projects,” said KIUC President and CEO David Bissell. “Our<br />
members have long recognized the hydroelectric potential on Kaua‘i, and we feel now we have the financial<br />
resources and the proven developer to move forward.” If successful, these generation assets will be owned by KIUC,<br />
providing longterm rate stability under much more attractive terms than through a power purchase agreement.<br />
Green Energy Hydro LLC – 130 kW<br />
■ 170 homes annually.<br />
■ Began operations in Q3 2009 at the Port Allen<br />
warehouse.<br />
■ Building integrated photovoltaic systems;<br />
completed the first week of February.<br />
■ Replaced roof and installed 68kW roof integrated<br />
photovoltaic system—20 homes annually.<br />
<strong>Utility</strong> PoleMount PV<br />
■ New systems have been installed on poles near<br />
Kaua‘i Humane Society<br />
■ Fortyeight systems will be installed in <strong>2011</strong> to<br />
further evaluate the cost effectiveness and<br />
resource potential.<br />
GroundMount PV<br />
■ KIUC and Alexander & Baldwin announced plans<br />
for a 6MW utilityscale solar PV facility. (Story on<br />
page 11).<br />
■ KIUC signed two power purchase agreements with<br />
a total capacity of 4 MW. Once online, these<br />
projects will be the two largest solar farms in all of<br />
Hawai‘i.<br />
■ 1,100 homes annually.<br />
■ Through these installations, KIUC will continue as<br />
a leader in the integration of photovoltaic<br />
systems. Additionally, these projects will help<br />
utilities around the world better understand the<br />
physical limitations of PVs on distribution circuits.<br />
■ KIUC signed a contract with Xtreme Power to<br />
provide a battery energy storage system that will<br />
be located at the substation being supplied by the<br />
3MW farm. This storage system not only will<br />
facilitate installation of this large farm, but will<br />
provide support for islandwide photovoltaic<br />
systems. KIUC is interested in signing additional<br />
photovoltaic power purchase agreements in <strong>2011</strong>.<br />
KIUC is in discussions with numerous landowners.<br />
Biomass<br />
■ KIUC signed a power purchase agreement with<br />
Green Energy Team LLC for a biomass to energy<br />
project to be located near Koloa. This project will<br />
reduce Kaua‘i’s dependence on fossil fuels by 3.7<br />
million gallons per year, and provide biomassfired<br />
generation to serve the energy needs of more<br />
than 8,500 Kaua‘i households.<br />
■ KIUC continues to assess the development of a<br />
second biomasstoenergy facility at Port Allen or<br />
an alternative site.
The KIUC Charitable Foundation (KIUCCF)<br />
donated $1,000 for the “Free School Supplies<br />
Day” at Kukui Grove Center on July 23. The event<br />
was sponsored by Kaua‘i Family Magazine and<br />
partner businesses to provide free school supplies<br />
for Kaua‘i’s keiki.<br />
The KIUCCF also allocated funds for three<br />
$1,000 scholarships for the <strong>2011</strong>2012 academic<br />
year at Kaua‘i Community College.<br />
Last year, the KIUCCF scholarships were<br />
awarded to liberal arts students Jade Lehua Cano,<br />
Kainoa Matias, and Kehaulani Medeiros, who<br />
were selected by the Liberal Arts Scholarship<br />
Selection Committee.<br />
Eligibility requirements for the scholarship<br />
include being a resident of Kaua‘i who has<br />
graduated from a high school on Kaua‘i or has<br />
obtained a GED equivalency and is enrolled at KCC<br />
full time with a minimum of 12 credits. They must<br />
By Shelley Paik<br />
KIUC IN THE COMMUNITY<br />
KIUC Charitable Foundation Releases<br />
Funds for ‘Free School Supplies Day’<br />
and Scholarships for KCC Students<br />
be pursuing a degree in liberal arts, and have a<br />
minimum GPA of 2.5 from a Kaua‘i high school or<br />
college. Official transcripts from high school,<br />
college, or a GED equivalent are required.<br />
Interested students may apply through the<br />
University of Hawai‘i Foundation.<br />
“We are pleased to continue this scholarship at<br />
KCC to assist our Kaua‘i students with furthering<br />
their academics,” said KIUC Charitable Foundation<br />
President Allan Smith.<br />
In 2005, Gov. Linda Lingle signed legislation<br />
enabling KIUC to keep and use for charitable<br />
purposes unclaimed refunds that previously<br />
would have been turned over to the state for its<br />
use. None of these funds come from KIUC assets.<br />
The KIUC Charitable Foundation is governed by<br />
nine directors, comprised of three KIUC directors,<br />
three KIUC employees and three KIUC members.<br />
KIUC Charitable Foundation<br />
members present a check<br />
for the Kaua'i Family<br />
Magazine school supply<br />
drive. From left, KIUCCF<br />
President Allan A. Smith,<br />
KIUCCF board members<br />
Trinette Kaui and Steve M.<br />
Rapozo, Kaua‘i Family<br />
Magazine Publisher Chrissy<br />
Schecter, KIUCCF board<br />
member Kathryn Williams,<br />
“Free School Supplies Day”<br />
coordinator Mary Navarro<br />
and KIUCCF board member<br />
Carol Bain.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 21
22 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Carey Koide<br />
A Continuing Partnership<br />
KIUC and the Kaua’i Humane Society prepare for the <strong>2011</strong> shearwater season<br />
Kaua’i residents generally are familiar with our<br />
unique native species, which include the Newell’s<br />
Shearwater and the less common Hawaiian Petrel<br />
and the Bandrumped Storm Petrel. Although<br />
these birds spend most of their lives at sea, they<br />
return to Kaua’i’s steepsloped interior to breed in<br />
the spring and summer. Each fall, that year’s<br />
fledgling birds make their maiden flight to sea<br />
guided by the light of the moon and stars, and will<br />
not return until they approach breeding age<br />
several years later.<br />
A fledgling’s initial flight to sea can be perilous.<br />
For example, they are so attracted to bright lights<br />
they often fly in circles around them until they are<br />
exhausted and land or, in some cases, collide with<br />
obstacles such as buildings. Once grounded, these<br />
seabirds have extreme difficulty regaining flight<br />
from flat ground. Without rescue, they are nearly<br />
certain to die due to attack by predators (such as<br />
dogs and cats), being run over by cars, or from<br />
dehydration or starvation.<br />
Each fall the call goes out to Kaua’i residents to<br />
watch for and retrieve downed seabirds, which<br />
are then collected by the Save Our Shearwaters<br />
(SOS) program. Following a prompt evaluation,<br />
and in some cases some care and feeding, nearly<br />
all seabirds handled by SOS are released back to<br />
the wild—more than 30,000 seabirds so far.<br />
Some of the greater achievements in the SOS<br />
program in recent years has been the continued<br />
partnerships that include several nonprofit<br />
organizations, government agencies, and other<br />
entities, all working together for the greater good<br />
of protected seabirds on Kaua‘i.<br />
Kaua‘i Humane Society (KHS) continues to<br />
manage and operate the SOS program, which is<br />
fully funded by KIUC. Dr. Joanne Woltmon of the<br />
Kaua‘i Veterinary Clinic and Linda Elliot, president<br />
and director of the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center,<br />
continue to provide rehabilitation guidance and<br />
direction to KHS staff. The Kaua‘i Fire Department<br />
continues to sponsor housing of aid stations at
Photos by Tracy Anderson<br />
each of its stations during the fledgling season<br />
from September 15 to December 15. This provides<br />
for a convenient drop off point across the island,<br />
with easy access for those on Kaua‘i recovering<br />
any downed seabirds. All of this, is under the<br />
watchful eyes of Thomas Kaiakapu, Kaua‘i wildlife<br />
manager, for the Hawai‘i Department of Land and<br />
Natural Resources.<br />
Improvements in bird handling and rehabilitation<br />
protocols of these seabirds increase the likeliness<br />
of their survival. The collection and analysis of<br />
blood work upon their arrival and prior to release<br />
has provided additional information used to<br />
evaluate the health and condition of the birds<br />
while under the care of SOS personnel and<br />
rehabilitation experts.<br />
KHS is installing two small pools to provide incare<br />
housing for more stable birds and a more<br />
natural medium for the birds to recover in. This<br />
will prevent many of the secondary complications<br />
these birds are prone to developing while being<br />
kept in captivity.<br />
It also will provide a more effective system to<br />
enable them to become waterproof. Seabird<br />
feathers need to be in optimum condition<br />
(undamaged and free of contaminants) before<br />
release as feathers are the birds’ protection from<br />
the elements and keep them dry while diving for<br />
food. Birds preen unsoiled feathers into place and<br />
interlock them in such a way as to repel water,<br />
which keeps them warm and dry while they are<br />
out at sea.<br />
Despite these efforts, the population of these<br />
seabirds appears to be steadily declining.<br />
Scientists believe the greatest threats to these<br />
species are loss of suitable breeding habitat, and<br />
predation by alien predators such as rats and cats<br />
in the breeding colonies that remain. But<br />
mankind’s lights and structures also can have an<br />
adverse effect.<br />
Reducing Light Attraction<br />
By eliminating stray light through its lamp<br />
replacement program completed in 2004, KIUC<br />
has reduced the number of young birds that get<br />
confused and fall rather than continue out to sea.<br />
You can help reduce light attraction by:<br />
■ Turning off unnecessary outdoor lights.<br />
■ Replacing fixtures that scatter light in all<br />
directions—such as globe and carriage lights—<br />
with directional fixtures that point down and<br />
away from the beach.<br />
■ Shielding the light source. Materials such as<br />
aluminum flashing can be used to direct light<br />
where it is needed and keep it off the beach.<br />
■ Replacing white incandescent, fluorescent and<br />
highintensity lighting with a 40 watt or less<br />
yellow bug light.<br />
■ If you have large windows, draw drapes at<br />
night to keep interior lights from attracting the<br />
birds.<br />
■ If you live near a county ballpark, check your<br />
neighborhood for grounded seabirds. If the<br />
park is not in use, but the lights are still on,<br />
turn off the lights.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 23
Ongoing<br />
Improvements<br />
Construction continues at the Kaua‘i<br />
Humane Society as crews work<br />
to build two small pools to provide<br />
incare housing and a more natural<br />
setting where the birds can recover.<br />
Check back in the October issue of<br />
KIUC Currents for an update on the<br />
improvements.<br />
24 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
When Rescuing a Seabird is Necessary<br />
To prepare for seabird recovery, please follow<br />
these recommendations:<br />
■ Keep an old towel and a ventilated cardboard<br />
box, pet carrier or other non airtight container<br />
in your car. If you are on foot, just the towel<br />
will do.<br />
■ If you find a downed bird, gently pick it up<br />
from behind with the towel, carefully<br />
wrapping the material completely around its<br />
back and wings. Place it in a container as soon<br />
as possible. Be aware of the shearwaters’<br />
long, pointed bill. Don’t be worried too much<br />
because the birds are usually docile, but<br />
wrapping the bird in a towel will protect you<br />
and the bird.<br />
■ Keep the bird covered and in a quiet, shaded<br />
location. Do not feed, water or handle it.<br />
■ Take the recovered bird to the nearest<br />
shearwater aid station right away (see the list<br />
to locate the aid station nearest you).<br />
■ Do not attempt to release the bird yourself. It<br />
may have internal injuries, or be too tired or<br />
weak to survive. Throwing the bird into the air<br />
could cause more injury. Let the trained SOS<br />
program staff examine the bird and decide<br />
when, where and how to let it go.<br />
■ On the board provided at the aid station, write<br />
information about where you found the bird.<br />
The best information would be a street<br />
address or street intersection, the number of<br />
a nearby utility pole or highway mile marker. If<br />
you are in a hurry, you can leave your<br />
telephone number so staff can call you to get<br />
additional information about the bird you<br />
found.<br />
The SOS team thanks everyone for their<br />
support, and will continue to work with all of<br />
Kaua‘i, to make this a successful program. Mahalo<br />
for your support.<br />
SOS Aid Station<br />
Locations<br />
West<br />
Waimea Fire Station<br />
Hanapēpē Fire Station<br />
Kalaheo Fire Station<br />
Port Allen Chevron<br />
PMRF<br />
South<br />
Kōloa Fire Station<br />
CentralEast<br />
Līhu’e Fire Station<br />
Kapa’a Fire Station<br />
Matson Nawiliwili<br />
Kaua’i Humane Society<br />
North<br />
Kilauea Medical Group<br />
Hanalei Fire Station<br />
Hanalei Liquor Store
STOP FLU AT SCHOOL<br />
HAWAI‘I STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH<br />
Stop Flu at School<br />
Attention, parents of students in kindergarten through eighth grade<br />
Stop Flu at School consent forms due September 9!<br />
Vaccination is a child’s best protection against influenza (flu).<br />
The Department of Health will conduct its annual schoolbased<br />
flu vaccination program, Protect Hawai‘i’s Keiki: Stop Flu at<br />
School, this fall. All students, kindergarten through eighth<br />
grade, attending participating schools statewide are able to<br />
receive a free flu vaccination at school. Visit<br />
http://flu.hawaii.gov/SFAS_schedule.html for the list of<br />
participating schools and their clinic dates.<br />
Consent forms and additional information about the Stop<br />
Flu at School program will be distributed through<br />
participating schools in <strong>August</strong>.<br />
Participating is easy! Just read the information packet,<br />
choose the type of flu vaccine (nasal spray or shot) you want<br />
your child to receive, complete the appropriate consent form,<br />
and sign, date, and return the consent form to your child’s<br />
teacher by September 9, <strong>2011</strong>.<br />
For more information about the Stop Flu at School program,<br />
visit http://flu.hawaii.gov/SFAS.html or call 211.<br />
Hundreds of purple people walking for a purpose and having<br />
fun at the same time; what a wonderful way to spend a<br />
Saturday morning, October 8, at Kukui Grove Shopping Center.<br />
The Walk To End Alzheimer’s ® is the largest awareness building<br />
program hosted by The Alzheimer’s Association, Kaua‘i chapter.<br />
It is a fun and exciting event that recognizes this devastating<br />
illness that affects thousands on Kaua‘i and their family, friends<br />
and love ones.<br />
Walkers who participated last year raised money to help Kaua‘i families. The Kaua‘i chapter’s core services provide<br />
caregiver training, education, clinics, one-on-one counseling and support groups. Our <strong>2011</strong> goal is to recruit more<br />
than 160 walkers and raise at least $22,500 for Kaua‘i.<br />
For more information to participate in the walk, go to http://walktoendalz.kintera.org or please contact Humberto<br />
Blancoat by phone or email.<br />
Where: Kukui Grove Shopping Center, Lihue, Kaua‘i<br />
When: Saturday, October 8, <strong>2011</strong> - 8 a.m.<br />
Length: As many laps around the mall as you choose<br />
Contact: Humberto Blancoat, 245.3200 or<br />
humberto.blanco@alz.org.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 25
KIUC KEIKI<br />
Four Smiling Faces<br />
<strong>2011</strong> NRECA Youth Tour<br />
KIUC Youth Tour delegation<br />
at breakfast with<br />
U.S. Congresswoman<br />
Mazie K. Hirono.<br />
26 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Amy Niwa<br />
Once a year, I remember seeing four smiling<br />
faces on the cover of KIUC Currents, which comes<br />
in the mail. It wasn't until later I learned why<br />
there were faces of students on what I found to<br />
be a “grownup” magazine. It wasn’t until later<br />
that I dreamed of some day being one of those<br />
faces. When information to be part of the Youth<br />
Tour came around, I leaped at the opportunity,<br />
along with my best friend.<br />
“I was nervous to enter,” said John Medeiros of<br />
Waimea High School, who also shared the friendly<br />
competition with peers. “I remember going to the<br />
interview really nervous and then getting a phone<br />
call later that evening saying that I had been<br />
selected. I was jumping up and down, all happy<br />
that I won.”<br />
Feelings of joy and excitement for the trip also<br />
ran through me. It was an amazing feeling to be<br />
selected.<br />
Finally the day came. When we landed in Kansas<br />
City, Missouri, making our way to Topeka, Kansas,<br />
we quickly noticed the difference in geography—<br />
from the ocean and mountains of Kaua'i to the flat<br />
land of Kansas. It was quite the learning<br />
experience. Thankfully, we Hawaiians landed a day<br />
early to adjust to the fivehour time difference and<br />
said our goodbyes to rice and aloha.<br />
Then the day came that we met our new friends<br />
from Kansas. They asked us all of the typical<br />
questions you could think of: Do you live in a grass<br />
shack? Do you go surfing and dance hula every<br />
day? We laughed, explained what Hawai‘i is<br />
REALLY like and even pulled their leg a bit.<br />
From there we made our way to the “Get<br />
Acquainted Banquet,” where flower leis,<br />
macadamia candies and a demonstration of how<br />
badly we are at singing was shared among the<br />
group, as the rules and expectations were<br />
explained.<br />
Interviews for the Youth Leadership Council<br />
followed, as each one of us explained what it<br />
would mean to be selected and how coming from<br />
Hawai‘i we would be able to share what we know<br />
as the “aloha spirit.”<br />
The next day we made our way to the Kansas<br />
Capitol building and got to know more about each<br />
other. We toured the Wolf Creek generation<br />
station and got a tour at LyonCoffey Electric<br />
<strong>Cooperative</strong>, including bucket truck rides. We<br />
then flew to Washington, D.C., where the touring<br />
began! One of the things I remember most about<br />
Youth Tour was being asked, “Where/what’s
Hawai‘i/Kansas?” I remember being warned prior<br />
to the trip about that question, but it doesn’t<br />
really count until you walk into the lobby and are<br />
surrounded by 200 something kids all asking you<br />
for a pin because you’re from Hawai‘i.<br />
We viewed the Pentagon memorial. Did you<br />
know it is unlawful to take a picture of the<br />
Pentagon while on the Pentagon grounds? We<br />
found out shortly after we got there. It was fun to<br />
watch Kansans superamazed by fish at the<br />
National Aquarium. After multiple tries, we made<br />
it on the big screen at a major league baseball<br />
game and participated in a crowd wave with well<br />
more than 3,000 people. It was exciting. We also<br />
toured Arlington National Cemetery, the<br />
Holocaust Memorial Museum and several<br />
Smithsonians, where we saw Monet and the only<br />
DaVinci piece on this side of the globe.<br />
The culture was an amazing experience I will<br />
never forget.<br />
The Hawai‘i delegration<br />
prepares for the lei<br />
presentation to the<br />
Kansas delegation.<br />
The entire Kansas/Hawai‘i<br />
delegation at the Kansas<br />
State House in Topeka.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 27
The Kaua‘i delegation<br />
admires the<br />
Washington, D.C., skyline<br />
from the John F. Kennedy<br />
Center for the Performing<br />
Arts roof before attending<br />
the theater.<br />
The entire delegation<br />
lets loose.<br />
28 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
“This experience taught me more than what I<br />
would have learned in a regular history class,” said<br />
Kristen Sugihara of Kaua'i High School. “Youth Tour<br />
gave me a clearer understanding of how our<br />
nation came to be, taught me lifelong lessons and,<br />
most importantly, taught me which building has<br />
284 bathrooms (Pentagon)!”<br />
As a group, we grew close fast, bonded and<br />
created relationships that typically take months.<br />
We learned that although we come from opposite<br />
places, we are similar groups of people.<br />
John was selected to represent Hawai‘i in the<br />
<strong>2011</strong> YLC and continue the “aloha spirit” he<br />
displayed not only with the ’ohana of the<br />
Hawai‘i/Kansas delegation, but the other 43<br />
participating states.<br />
As the days of the tour continued, we also<br />
toured Mt. Vernon, and the Lincoln, Vietnam,<br />
Korean, Jefferson, Roosevelt and World War II<br />
memorials. We even took the picture of four<br />
smiling students in front of our nation’s capitol,<br />
which started this journey for me.<br />
We enjoyed breakfast with the congressional<br />
delegation from both Hawai‘i and Kansas.<br />
It was inspiring to hear that even though<br />
Hawai‘i representatives live on the other side of<br />
the country, they manage to stay connected with<br />
home. It was even more amazing to witness<br />
Hawai‘i making it all the way to D.C.<br />
“The NRECA Youth Tour opened my eyes to a<br />
world of possibilities,” said Kristen.<br />
As the trip came to a close, we learned not only<br />
about the history of our nation, but about<br />
ourselves. We created memories and cried tears<br />
of joy as this delegation started out as two and<br />
ended as one. We started out as strangers,<br />
became friends and, in the end, became ’ohana,<br />
leaving no one behind.<br />
The opportunity to be part of the <strong>2011</strong> Youth<br />
Tour was a onceinalifetime experience.<br />
The <strong>2011</strong> Hawai‘i Youth Tour students would like<br />
to thank the National Rural Electric <strong>Cooperative</strong><br />
Association, KIUC and the community. We were<br />
honored to be chosen to represent the island of<br />
Kaua‘i.<br />
I can proudly say we left our homes as 38<br />
individuals, but came back as ONE big happy<br />
family.
2012 Calendar of Student Art<br />
We are waiting for your entries. KIUC’s 9th annual Calendar of Student<br />
Art contest is ready to go. Packets have been sent to Kaua’i schools, and<br />
we’re excited to see the artwork students will produce this year!<br />
KIUC’s Calendar of Student Art contest was designed to encourage<br />
and promote young artists on the island; the artwork of Kaua’i<br />
students will be featured in KIUC’s 2012 calendar. Our contest again<br />
will celebrate the arts and showcase each grade level’s student talent.<br />
It is our hope that participation in this contest will play a part in<br />
encouraging a lifelong love of art.<br />
As in previous years, kindergartners will design the cover, first<br />
graders will depict January, second graders are assigned February and<br />
so on through December, with 12th graders.<br />
The deadline is Friday, October 14, <strong>2011</strong>. All entries must be received<br />
by 4 p.m. at the KIUC offices, located at 4463 Pahe’e Street, Līhu’e.<br />
For more information, please contact Shelley Paik at 246.4378,<br />
or via email at spaik@kiuc.coop.<br />
2012 Contest Rules<br />
Who can enter: Any Kaua’i student attending any public or private<br />
school or schooled at home, who is currently in grades kindergarten<br />
through grade 12.<br />
Artwork can be submitted by teachers, students, parents, guardians<br />
or others as a group or class project.<br />
Students may enter as often as they wish.<br />
How the contest works: Match the grade the student is in during the<br />
current (<strong>2011</strong>2012) school year to the corresponding month.<br />
Students should draw or paint a picture to illustrate their assigned<br />
month.<br />
Artwork will be judged on artistic merit, creativity and how well the<br />
assigned month is depicted. Acceptable artwork includes still life,<br />
landscapes, portraits, etc., as long as the monthly theme is somehow<br />
portrayed.<br />
All elements of the artwork (lines, paint, color, shapes, shading,<br />
highlights, etc.) must be the work of the student whose name<br />
appears on the back of the artwork.<br />
No tracing is allowed.<br />
All artwork must be original and not be copied from other<br />
copyrighted sources without substantial creative changes; renderings<br />
or other paintings or published photographs that are deemed to be<br />
too exact to the source will be disqualified.<br />
How to submit the artwork: Drawings should be no larger than 11x14<br />
inches and no smaller than 8x10 inches. (Paintings or canvas can be<br />
larger.) Drawings on white or lightcolored paper will reproduce best.<br />
Do not use ruled paper.<br />
Most any medium is acceptable, as long as the art is relatively flat.<br />
Charcoal and pastel drawings should be sprayed with a fixative. Do<br />
not use glitter, sand, liquids or other elements that can flake off or<br />
otherwise damage the works of other students.<br />
Artwork in the horizontal or landscape position best fits the<br />
calendar’s format.<br />
Do not mount, mat, laminate or frame artwork.<br />
Do not fold or crease artwork.<br />
How to identify your artwork: On the back of each entry, in the lower<br />
righthand corner, include: name, age, grade, school, name of<br />
parents or guardians, home address, phone number and email<br />
address.<br />
Information on each entry must be legible.<br />
Artwork created digitally on computer may be entered as long as<br />
rules on originality and copyrighted sources are followed. Resolution<br />
must be at least 300 dpi at 8x10 inches. Contact contest officials<br />
listed below for file format requirements and other details for digital<br />
submissions.<br />
The name and school of each winning student will be printed in the<br />
calendar, along with the student’s photograph. Photos of winning<br />
students will be requested after the winners are announced.<br />
Judging and prizes: A panel of judges will pick winners.<br />
Calendar winners will receive $100.<br />
Additional artwork may be chosen as honorable mentions and will<br />
be printed in a special section of the calendar. Honorable mentions<br />
will receive $50.<br />
An overall “Artist of the Year” will be selected. The “Artist of the<br />
Year” will receive $100 and will be featured in KIUC Currents<br />
magazine.<br />
Judges also may select Award of Merit winners, who will receive<br />
certificates.<br />
Some artwork will be selected for our Calendar Art Advertising<br />
Program.<br />
All artwork and reproduction rights become the property of KIUC.<br />
Artwork will not be returned.<br />
Deadline: Friday, October 14, <strong>2011</strong>. All entries must be received by<br />
4 p.m. at the KIUC office, located at 4463 Pahe’e Street, Līhu’e.<br />
For more details: Please contact Shelley Paiki at 246.4378,<br />
or via email at spaik@kiuc.coop.<br />
1st grade - January 5th grade - May 9th grade - September<br />
2nd grade - February 6th grade - June 10th grade - October<br />
3rd grade - March 7th grade - July 11th grade - November<br />
4th grade - April 8th grade - <strong>August</strong> 12th grade - December<br />
Kindergarten students will draw the cover art.<br />
There is no theme for kindergartners; any subject, season, event, etc., is acceptable.<br />
<strong>2011</strong> Calendar<br />
of Student Art<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 29
30 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By John Medeiros<br />
Mr. Medeiros<br />
Goes to Washington<br />
As the Youth Leadership Council representative<br />
for Hawai‘i, Medeiros learns and shares some<br />
valuable lessons.<br />
I’m John Medeiros, delegate for the state of<br />
Hawai‘i, from the island of Kaua‘i. I’d like to first<br />
thank Kaua‘i <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Utility</strong> <strong>Cooperative</strong>, NRECA and<br />
the redshirts of the Youth Leadership Council for<br />
such an amazing opportunity. From someone who<br />
experienced it all firsthand, I can honestly say it is<br />
a blessing. I’d like to extend my gratitude to Aunty<br />
Anne Barnes, Aunty Shana Read and the rest of<br />
our chaperones, who kept us under control.<br />
I’d also like to give a friendly warning: I<br />
generally speak in anecdotes. On Kaua‘i we’d say a<br />
person can “wala’au planny.” And trust me, I<br />
wala’au plaaaanny.<br />
With that said, I recall a particular summer—<br />
seventh grade, so a good four years ago—the<br />
eighthgraders at our school were allowed a quote<br />
under their yearbook picture. Something short,<br />
and most times it’d be a representation of a jersey<br />
number, a shoutout to a best friend in the corner<br />
of a page or a relationship, an inside joke … that<br />
kind of thing. So I was pleasantly surprised—and<br />
amused—when I read this one, and its exact<br />
words are stuck in my memory to this day:<br />
“Children are the future. Scared?” I thought it was<br />
perfect. Short, bittersweet, clever, hit the heart<br />
and the mind with one stone. And, I must say, it<br />
troubled me to think that someone my age,<br />
somewhere, will one day become the president.<br />
Someone my age is going to become a corporate<br />
billionaire in charge of people, assets, money. So,<br />
yes, in answer to that question, I was scared.<br />
But this Youth Tour changed my frame of mind<br />
for good. Everything was different. Everything was<br />
new to me, a brand new experience. The<br />
atmosphere of the place was unique,<br />
overwhelming, worlds apart from the home I<br />
knew … and I loved every second of it. They said<br />
it’d be the trip of a lifetime. They were right. They<br />
said it’d be a journey, an adventure, even. All an<br />
understatement. My understanding of the world<br />
around me was tested. All of the conclusions I had<br />
drawn were out the window. And all this<br />
difference, all this change, tends to grow on you.<br />
So, time for some background. The four<br />
delegates from Hawai‘i met up with 34 from<br />
Kansas, and formed the Hawai‘iKansas<br />
Delegation. Those Kansans … they are an<br />
incredible group of people. More aloha than a<br />
majority of the people I know in Hawai‘i, and<br />
that’s seriously saying something. Humble,<br />
respectful, funny … all of them, every single one!<br />
You couldn’t help but have fun in their company,<br />
and when we had to leave them, we were crying<br />
buckets. Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t there for<br />
the socializing. But often what can make or break<br />
a trip are the people you spend it with—and man,<br />
they made it. The monuments, memorials, they<br />
took our breaths away. But the friendships we<br />
made were monumental and memorable in<br />
themselves.<br />
For the youth from Hawai‘i, our tour started<br />
when we arrived in Kansas. Now, I’ve been to the<br />
mainland a few times, but I’ve only ever visited<br />
two locations: Disneyland in California and Disney<br />
World in Florida. Not too bad. That’s both ends of<br />
the country covered. But I’ve never been<br />
landlocked; I’ve never stepped off a plane and<br />
asked myself as I looked around, “where’s the<br />
ocean?” The longest drive I’ve ever been on was<br />
two hours—and that record was set on the Youth<br />
Tour. On Kaua‘i, everyone knows just about<br />
everyone. The system that Kaua‘i’s citizens go by<br />
to communicate with each other has been<br />
dubbed “The Coconut Wireless,” where word of<br />
mouth spreads faster than tornado winds.<br />
Meanwhile, back at the ranch … ha … what<br />
really hit me was how different we Hawaiian<br />
Kansans could be from one another, and yet how<br />
close we became. When a few of them told me<br />
they had never seen the ocean before, I had to
John takes time to say hello to Kansas Youth Leadership<br />
Council representative Audrey Boeken.<br />
pick my jaw up off the floor; they had to do the<br />
same, however, when I said I’d never seen a<br />
tornado, and that the twohour drive between<br />
states (which I had also never done before) was a<br />
journey and a half. To put it lightly, we were<br />
worlds away. And there hasn’t been a day that’s<br />
passed that I’ve been too busy to remember all<br />
the fun we had up there together.<br />
Geographically, there isn’t a place in the United<br />
States farther away from Washington, D.C., than<br />
Kaua‘i. I mean, maybe Ni’ihau, a neighbor island,<br />
but that doesn’t count. Almost 5,000 miles, half of<br />
the Pacific Ocean, and six hours of a time<br />
difference separate the two. But I realized that it<br />
doesn’t matter what part of the country you come<br />
from: whether you farm in Kansas, whether you<br />
surf in Hawai‘i—everything in between. We’re all<br />
part of the same country, the same nation, united<br />
under the same guidelines, the same government.<br />
Youth Tour brought life to the government I<br />
hadn’t known.<br />
Being 5,000 miles away from the nation’s<br />
capital, I have a pretty unique perspective toward<br />
it. I think we become, both physically and<br />
mentally, distanced from our government. We<br />
read about the Constitution, and the Declaration<br />
of Independence, where their beautifullyscripted<br />
words and pure poetic quality is typed onto<br />
textbooks, countless times, and we lose their<br />
feeling, lose their meaning. The Revolutionary<br />
War, Independence Day … I can honestly say it<br />
didn’t have as much significance to me as I’d have<br />
liked. But Youth Tour … never in my life did I think<br />
I’d stand six inches from the Constitution, the<br />
framework of our very government. I never<br />
thought I’d live to see the Declaration of<br />
Independence right there in front of me. Fourth of<br />
July this year, my family and I went to a beach on<br />
the west side of our island. It’s a gorgeous<br />
beach—Barking Sands, at Major’s Bay—and we<br />
watched the military base shoot up 10 minutes of<br />
fireworks. They lit up the sky above the ocean. It<br />
was beautiful. It took on new meaning for me as<br />
they played the StarSpangled Banner on the<br />
loudspeakers. I had been to the very place that<br />
song was born: Fort McHenry. I had visited the<br />
document, seen it with my own eyes—the text<br />
that had set America free, made the United States<br />
independent.<br />
And as I stood there on the porch of a cottage<br />
overlooking the beach, watching the fireworks<br />
overhead, I could look down and imagine those<br />
documents in front of me, clear as day, and one of<br />
the awesome friends I had made back on Youth<br />
Tour putting a hand on my shoulder and saying,<br />
“Amazing, isn’t it? Over 200 years ago, they signed<br />
this thing and set us free.” He had voiced my<br />
thoughts right then and there. That level of<br />
humility, that level of respect and appreciation, is<br />
something I have never encountered. To know<br />
that the people around me were feeling what I<br />
was feeling, were impacted like I was impacted …<br />
needless to say, it is powerful.<br />
Youth Tour reinstilled a passion in me to learn<br />
all that I can. Youth Tour put me in a room of<br />
1,400 people, all strangers from distant lands,<br />
with separate flags, accents, upbringings—all<br />
brought together. It is a phenomenal experience.<br />
Now, readers, I challenge you: When these 43<br />
delegates step up to the plate to give their<br />
testimonies, think to yourself, “Children are the<br />
future. Scared?”<br />
Much mahalo and aloha!<br />
Hawai‘i delegation ladies<br />
have some fun with John.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 31
32 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
Photos By Shelley Paik<br />
Rise and<br />
Shine!<br />
1. Eggs<br />
Eggs<br />
6 eggs<br />
4 ounces cream cheese, cubed<br />
¼ cup water<br />
Pinch of salt<br />
Pepper to taste<br />
Break eggs into a bowl and whisk with water.<br />
Add cream cheese. Heat a pan and set to medium<br />
heat. Pour egg mixture into pan and stir eggs,<br />
scraping the bottom of the pan. When the eggs<br />
are cooked through and cheese has melted,<br />
remove from heat and serve.<br />
2<br />
2. Loco Moco<br />
1<br />
Hamburger<br />
1 pound hamburger<br />
1 small onion, chopped<br />
2 slices bread, soaked in water or milk, then<br />
torn into pieces<br />
2 tablespoons ketchup<br />
1 teaspoon salt<br />
1 teaspoon pepper<br />
Gravy<br />
1 can beef broth<br />
¼ cup sherry<br />
½ cup water<br />
Drippings from pan hamburgers were cooked in<br />
4 tablespoons cornstarch, mixed with equal<br />
amount of water to form a liquid<br />
Fried eggs<br />
Cooked rice<br />
Mix hamburger with onion, bread, ketchup, salt<br />
and pepper. Form into patties and cook on<br />
medium heat until browned on both sides to<br />
desired doneness. Set aside hamburger patties<br />
and keep drippings in the pan. Add beef broth and<br />
sherry to pan. Deglaze pan, bring mixture to a boil<br />
and add water. Slowly add cornstarch mixture to<br />
thicken the gravy. In a bowl, place rice on the<br />
bottom, then a hamburger patty and a fried egg.<br />
Cover with gravy.
3<br />
3. Breakfast Burrito<br />
1 10count package 8inch flour tortillas<br />
6 eggs<br />
6 sausage links, cut into small pieces (we used<br />
Banquet Brown ’n Serve)<br />
1 green bell pepper, chopped<br />
1 small onion. chopped<br />
1 potato, cooked and cut into small cubes<br />
4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
Salsa<br />
Sauté onions and bell pepper for 5 minutes. Mix<br />
in potato and sausage; heat for a few minutes.<br />
Crack eggs into a separate container; add ¼ cup<br />
water and mix well. Add eggs to sausage mixture.<br />
Stir until well mixed. When eggs are cooked, add<br />
cheese until melted. Remove from heat. Scoop<br />
about ¼ cup of the egg mixture onto heated<br />
tortilla and top with salsa. Fold and serve. Makes<br />
10 burritos.<br />
4. Potato, Ham and<br />
Sausage Breakfast<br />
8 cups sliced red potatoes<br />
6 tablespoons butter<br />
6 green onions, chopped<br />
2 cups diced ham steak, cooked<br />
1 package precooked sausage<br />
1½ to 2 cups heavy cream<br />
2 to 3 tablespoons flour<br />
2 cups shredded cheese<br />
2 tablespoons kosher salt<br />
1 clove garlic<br />
Bring potatoes and salt to a boil. Remove from<br />
heat. Secure one clove of garlic to a fork and put<br />
into water for 45 seconds and remove. Drain<br />
partly cooked potatoes and reserve ⅓ cup of the<br />
potato water. Melt butter on medium low heat.<br />
Add onions and saute until cooked. Add diced<br />
ham and sausage that has been cooked to<br />
microwave instructions and diced. Add flour;<br />
blend and add cream gradually, stirring constantly.<br />
When it starts to bubble, add 1½ cups of cheese.<br />
Cook until cheese is melted and add remaining ⅓<br />
cup of potato water. Spray a 3quart casserole dish<br />
with nonstick cooking spray. Layer potatoes and<br />
then sauce. Continue repeating until all<br />
ingredients are used. Bake in a 325degree oven<br />
for 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top<br />
Bake in oven for 5 minutes and serve.<br />
4<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 33
KIUC BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />
A Message From the Chairman<br />
34 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
Aloha,<br />
On July 8, <strong>2011</strong>, our members gave us a strong message to continue our efforts to<br />
identify areas on this island where there is high potential for hydropower. With this<br />
mandate, we are going forward with our plans. We are continuing our outreach<br />
program and will hold community meetings in various communities on Kaua‘i. The<br />
dates and times will be announced in the media.<br />
Since our last issue of Currents, we received approval of our Habitat Conservation<br />
Plan from the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior. This<br />
approval came shortly after our meeting with Interior officials in May. Our staff,<br />
headed by Carey Koide, manager of our support services department, is hard at work<br />
implementing the terms of the plan.<br />
We are associated with several organizations, including the National Rural Electric<br />
<strong>Cooperative</strong> Association. It assisted KIUC from day one, from forming our<br />
cooperative to purchasing Kaua‘i Electric Co. from Citizens Utilities, to organizing and training the board of<br />
directors and much more. It put us in touch with the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture and<br />
the National Rural Utilities <strong>Cooperative</strong> Finance Corporation, which provided all of the financing to KIUC. To this<br />
day, NRECA continues to represent us in Congress and protect us from laws that could adversely affect our<br />
existence as a utility. It provides training for all of our board members and staff.<br />
We are fortunate to have an organization such as NRECA that we can call upon when needed. Our<br />
representative on the NRECA Board of Directors is our past Chairman Dennis Esaki. He serves on the Executive<br />
Committee representing Region 9, which includes 11 western states. He also serves as chairman of the Marketing<br />
and Communications Committee, and sits on the International Committee. Although he no longer serves on<br />
KIUC’s board, Dennis continues to serve us in this capacity. Mahalo, Dennis, for your tireless efforts.<br />
To all of our members, mahalo for your support and understanding of your board of directors and staff at KIUC<br />
as we move forward during these trying times.<br />
KIUC’s <strong>2011</strong><br />
Membership Meeting<br />
Save the date for the KIUC Membership Meeting on Sunday,<br />
September 25, <strong>2011</strong>, at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention<br />
Hall from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.<br />
Doors will open at 4 p.m., with the first 300 members<br />
receiving a bag of rice. All members in attendance will receive<br />
an annual report and reusable shopping bag. We also will have<br />
Coop Connections Cards available.<br />
Kalaheo School’s Sunshine Express will perform prior to the<br />
business meeting, which begins at 4:30 p.m.<br />
Bring your family and neighbors to learn about what KIUC<br />
has been doing, and enjoy a light dinner and entertainment.<br />
We hope you will join us!<br />
T. Phil Tacbian, Chairman of the Board<br />
KIUC<br />
Annual<br />
Membership<br />
Meeting
5/31<br />
6/28<br />
Board Actions<br />
for May and June <strong>2011</strong><br />
Meeting Date Item Description Board Action<br />
SPC BS<br />
Unfinished<br />
Business<br />
New<br />
Business<br />
Unfinished<br />
Business<br />
New<br />
Business<br />
Recommend staff provide a FERC workshop as soon as possible specifically before any<br />
meetings with the public. (Workshop scheduled for Thursday, June 2 with FFP).<br />
Approved<br />
Policy (SB) Board Policy No. 5, Conflicts of Interest and Conduct of Interested Persons (5/31/11 Rev). Approved<br />
Policy (SB) Board Policy No. 18, Board Member Qualifications and Eligibility (5/31/11 Rev). Approved<br />
Individual director and board email communication discussion.<br />
Exec (TPT) Selection of a board evaluation consultant.<br />
F&A (AAS)<br />
Renewable/Hydro Communication Outreach Plan budget through member vote<br />
not to exceed $150,000. Revised plan document to be sent to board reflecting<br />
approved amount or less (Executive BAR).<br />
Deferred to Member Relations<br />
Committee<br />
Deferred to Executive Session<br />
for discussion on individual<br />
contract proposals details<br />
Approved<br />
F&A (AAS) Attorney Invoice #3671 (Ebbin Moser & Skaggs) dated 4/15/11. HCP attorneys (Acctg BAR). Approved<br />
S. Rymsha Moloa‘a 1-MW photovoltaic power purchase agreement Approved<br />
MRC Board Resolution 05-11 approving the written ballot of Free Flow Power decision. Approved<br />
CB<br />
Exec (SMR)<br />
CB<br />
Conduct a pilot program using the Nominating Committee and one KIUC director<br />
to participate in mock ballot counting and have these people be the observer<br />
at the July 8 member ballot counting.<br />
Defer board evaluation consultant item to Executive Committee,<br />
with all directors invited to attend, to discuss.<br />
One member petitioner and one other member will be asked to serve as observers<br />
for the July 8 ballot counting. Director Yukimura will coordinate and<br />
General Counsel Proudfoot will be onsite to oversee.<br />
Approved<br />
Approved<br />
Directed no formal action<br />
MRC (CB) Oversight of the 2010 Revolving Loan Fund Report (MS BAR). Approved<br />
SPC (BS)<br />
SPC (BS)<br />
Policy (PY)<br />
Recommend the board and staff work together to design a comprehensive,<br />
community based Strategic Planning effort for our cooperative that would begin<br />
in the fall of <strong>2011</strong> and include vigorous outreach to our community.<br />
Allow all members of the board to attend the <strong>2011</strong> Asia Pacific Clean Energy<br />
Summit on Oahu September 12-15. Amendment to the motion: “as part of the<br />
Directors allotted 3 trips a year.”<br />
Board Policy No. 11, Patronage Capital Allocation & Retirement (revised to<br />
include the use of the Goodwin methodology for calculating patcap refunds).<br />
Motion failed<br />
Amendment passed; original<br />
motion passed<br />
Approved<br />
F&A (JT) Move $700,000 for Unit D9 18,000-hour overhaul from 2012 to <strong>2011</strong> (Prod BAR). Approved<br />
F&A (JT)<br />
F&A (JT)<br />
Increase Port Allen Maintenance Shop re-roof and PV installation project costs by<br />
$87,250. Total new budget $387,250 (Prod BAR).<br />
Approval for a 1-year extension of CFC letter of credit for Chevron, allowing time to file<br />
the CFC LOC changes to the PUC for approval (Acctg BAR).<br />
Approved<br />
Approved<br />
F&A (JT) Board Resolution 06-11, Certificate of Deposit for USFW Mitigation $250,000 letter of credit. Approved<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 35
36 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Kathryn Williams<br />
Tariff Rule #10<br />
Rates and Optional Rates<br />
PURSUANT TO KIUC’S TARIFF RULE NO. 10, SECTION E.3, WHICH STATES,<br />
IN RELEVANT PART:<br />
E.3. Within 60 days after commencement of company’s service, the company shall provide the customer<br />
with a brief explanation of the existing rate schedule and billing practice, including termination of<br />
service procedures and policy:<br />
a. The explanation may be in the form of a brochure or written material sent to the customer;<br />
In addition to the $20 service connection fee charged, you have been placed under one of the following<br />
briefly described base rate schedules applicable to your class of service (for complete schedules you<br />
may view KIUC’s tariff located at www.kiuc.coop or come in to the Lihue office):<br />
Residential Service<br />
SCHEDULE “D”<br />
Applicable to singlephase residential service in singlefamily dwellings metered and billed separately by<br />
the company. This schedule does not apply where residence and business are combined.<br />
Rate:<br />
Customer Charge: (Per Customer per month) $10.58<br />
Energy Charge:<br />
Energy Rate Adjustment<br />
Clause (ERAC):<br />
All kWh (to be added to<br />
Customer Charge)<br />
All kWh (to be added to<br />
Customer Charge)<br />
$0.34743 per kWh<br />
See explanation at the bottom<br />
of the schedules<br />
The minimum monthly charge shall be $13.50 per customer, per month.<br />
The Resource Cost Adjustment (DSM & IRP) Surcharge shall be added to the Customer and Energy<br />
Charges, and energy cost adjustment.
Small Commercial<br />
SCHEDULE “G”<br />
Applicable to all consumers whose maximum demand is not greater than 30 kW for any 15 consecutive<br />
minutes during a month, or whose energy consumption is less than 10,000 kWh in any month and who<br />
do not qualify under Schedule “D.”<br />
Rate:<br />
Customer Charge: (Per Customer per month) $23.82<br />
Energy Charge:<br />
Energy Rate Adjustment<br />
Clause (ERAC):<br />
The minimum monthly charge shall be $26.45 per customer, per month.<br />
The Resource Cost Adjustment (DSM & IRP) Surcharge shall be added to the Customer and Energy<br />
Charges, and energy cost adjustment.<br />
Large Commercial<br />
SCHEDULE “J”<br />
Applicable when the customer’s energy consumption exceeds 10,000 kWh in any month or the<br />
customer’s load exceeds 30 kW during any consecutive 15minute period in any month, and to all<br />
consumers whose maximum demand is not greater than 100 kW for any 15 consecutive minutes during<br />
a month, and who do not qualify under Schedule “D.”<br />
Rate:<br />
All kWh (to be added to<br />
Customer Charge)<br />
All kWh (to be added to<br />
Customer Charge)<br />
Customer Charge: (Per Customer per month) $39.69<br />
Demand Charge:<br />
Energy Charge:<br />
Energy Rate Adjustment<br />
Clause (ERAC):<br />
(To be added to Customer<br />
Charge)<br />
All kWh (to be added to<br />
Customer Charge)<br />
All kWh (to be added to<br />
Customer Charge)<br />
$0.35769 per kWh<br />
See explanation at the<br />
bottom of the schedules<br />
$6.62 per month per kW of<br />
monthly demand<br />
$0.32390 per kWh<br />
See explanation at the<br />
bottom of the schedules<br />
The minimum charge shall be the sum of the Customer Charge and the Demand Charge, but not less<br />
than $198.42 per month.<br />
The Resource Cost Adjustment (DSM & IRP) Surcharge shall be added to the Customer and Energy<br />
Charges, and energy cost adjustment.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 37
38 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
Large Power Primary Service<br />
(metered on the primary side of customerowned transformers)<br />
SCHEDULE “L”<br />
Applicable to all power users with metered loads in excess of 100 kW during any consecutive<br />
15minute period in any month. Such customers must sign a contract for service for a minimum period<br />
of twelve (12) months except for temporary services.<br />
Rate:<br />
Customer Charge: (Per Customer per month) $355.08<br />
Demand Charge:<br />
Energy Charge:<br />
The minimum charge shall be the sum of the Customer Charge and the Demand Charge.<br />
The Resource Cost Adjustment (DSM & IRP) Surcharge shall be added to the Customer and Energy<br />
Charges, and energy cost adjustment.<br />
Large Power Secondary Service<br />
(metered on the secondary side of KIUCowned transformers)<br />
SCHEDULE “P”<br />
Available to all power users with metered loads in excess of 100 kW during any consecutive<br />
15minute period in any month. Such customers must sign a contract for service for a minimum period<br />
of twelve (12) months, except for temporary services.<br />
Rate:<br />
(To be added to Customer<br />
Charge)<br />
(To be added to Customer<br />
Charge and Demand Charge)<br />
$13.94 per kW of monthly<br />
demand<br />
First 400 kWh per kW demand $0.30416 per kWh<br />
All Over 400 kWh per kW demand $0.28141 per kWh<br />
Energy Rate Adjustment<br />
Clause (ERAC):<br />
All kWh<br />
Customer Charge: (Per Customer per month) $369.38<br />
Demand Charge:<br />
Energy Charge:<br />
(To be added to Customer<br />
Charge)<br />
(To be added to Customer<br />
Charge and Demand Charge)<br />
See explanation at the<br />
bottom of the schedules<br />
$11.14 per kW of monthly<br />
demand<br />
First 400 kWh per kW demand $0.31379 per kWh<br />
All Over 400 kWh per kW demand $0.28977 per kWh<br />
Energy Rate Adjustment<br />
Clause (ERAC):<br />
All kWh<br />
See explanation at the<br />
bottom of the schedules<br />
The minimum charge shall be the sum of the Customer Charge and the Demand Charge.<br />
The Resource Cost Adjustment (DSM & IRP) Surcharge shall be added to the Customer and Energy<br />
Charges, and energy cost adjustment.
Street Lighting<br />
SCHEDULE “SL”<br />
Applicable to public street and highway lighting service. Available in general, where the company owns,<br />
maintains and operates the street lighting facilities and has already installed primary distribution<br />
circuits. Service supplied under this rate is subject to the rules of the company.<br />
Rate:<br />
1. Fixture Charge:<br />
a. Monthly charge for standard incandescent fixtures with no more than 4,000 lumen lamps $3.63<br />
per fixture, per month.<br />
b. Monthly charge for standard mercury vapor fixture with no more than 21,000 lumen lamps $6.25<br />
per fixture, per month.<br />
c. Monthly charge for standard highpressure sodium vapor fixtures:<br />
100 watt $6.25 per fixture, per month<br />
150 watt $6.25 per fixture, per month<br />
200 watt $6.47 per fixture, per month<br />
250 watt $6.47 per fixture, per month<br />
400 watt $6.75 per fixture, per month<br />
2. Energy Charge:<br />
Energy Rate Adjustment Clause (ERAC)<br />
All kWh (to be added to Customer<br />
Charge)<br />
All kWh (to be added to Customer<br />
Charge)<br />
$0.41530 per kWh<br />
See explanation at<br />
the bottom of<br />
the schedules<br />
The minimum charge will be the Fixture Charge per fixture connected to the circuit.<br />
The Resource Cost Adjustment (DSM & IRP) Surcharge shall be added to the Customer and Energy<br />
Charges, and energy cost adjustment.<br />
If the company is asked to remove or relocate facilities within 60 months after installation, the customer<br />
shall make a contribution in the amount of the estimated net removal or relocation cost.<br />
Energy Rate Adjustment Clause (ERAC)<br />
The ERAC adjustment on your bill captures the fuel and purchase power costs that are not already<br />
included in KIUC’s fixed energy charges.<br />
Billing Terms<br />
Bills are due and payable upon receipt. Bills become past due if unpaid within 25 days of the bill date.<br />
When bills are not paid by the due date, electric service may be limited or disconnected. KIUC will<br />
require payment of all past due amount(s), reconnect fee(s), and possible credit deposit before full<br />
service is restored.<br />
Disconnecting Service<br />
Please contact Member Services not less than two (2) working days prior to closing your account or<br />
disconnecting service.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 39
40 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Maile Moriguchi<br />
Save on Your Prescriptions<br />
With Coop Connections<br />
More than $32.4 million has been saved<br />
on prescriptions by coop members<br />
since May 2007.<br />
Discover how much you can save<br />
with your Coop Connections Card<br />
To learn more about Coop Connections, visit www.kiuc.coop<br />
Members can pick up their Coop Connections Card at KIUC’s main office in Līhu‘e. If your<br />
business would like to participate in the program, or for more information, please contact<br />
Maile Moriguchi at 246.4348.
Pharmacy Discount<br />
Frequently<br />
Asked<br />
Questions<br />
How much will I save?<br />
The discounts save you 10 percent to 60 percent on<br />
prescriptions at more than 60,000 pharmacies nationwide.<br />
How much does the feature cost?<br />
Your pharmacy discounts are provided as part of the Coop<br />
Connections® Program at no cost.<br />
Does everyone in my family need<br />
an individual card?<br />
No. One card may be used by the entire family.<br />
I just received my card. Can I use it right away?<br />
Yes. Just present your card and prescription at a<br />
participating retail pharmacy to receive a discount at the time<br />
of purchase.<br />
I’ve lost my card. How can I get a replacement?<br />
Please contact KIUC.<br />
How are these pharmacy discounts different from<br />
traditional prescription insurance?<br />
This plan is not insurance; it is a pharmacy discount offer.<br />
The card provides immediate discounts at the pharmacy. Upon<br />
presenting your card to the pharmacist, you will pay the lower<br />
of a discounted price or the pharmacy’s regular retail price.<br />
There is no paperwork to fill out and no limit to the number of<br />
times you can use the card. These discounts are available only<br />
at participating retail pharmacies.<br />
Can I use my Coop Connections Card with my<br />
current insurance benefit to reduce my costs?<br />
Your card cannot be used in conjunction with insurance.<br />
However, use your card to purchase prescriptions not covered<br />
by your insurance plans at a discounted rate.<br />
Where can I get a list of pharmacies that accept<br />
the card?<br />
The Coop Connections Card is accepted at more than<br />
60,000 retail pharmacies nationwide. You can find<br />
participating pharmacy locations at www.locateproviders.com.<br />
Pharmacy discounts are not insurance, and are not intended<br />
as a substitute for insurance. The discount is only available<br />
at participating pharmacies.<br />
Will I always receive the lowest price?<br />
Yes. You will receive the best price available to you through this<br />
program at the pharmacy. On occasion, pharmacies will price a<br />
particular medication lower than the discount rate provided by<br />
the card. If that occurs, you will receive the lower price.<br />
Can I find out the discounted price of my<br />
prescriptions before going to the pharmacy?<br />
Yes. If you know the name, strength and quantity of the<br />
medication, you can find the discounted price of the<br />
medication by visiting www.rxpricequotes.com.<br />
Why did the price of my prescription change since<br />
my last purchase?<br />
Drug prices are different from pharmacy to pharmacy. Even<br />
chains have different prices in their stores, depending on the<br />
population they are serving. Additionally, manufacturers’ drug<br />
prices change periodically.<br />
What is the mail order program?<br />
To ensure members always save money on their prescription<br />
drugs, a unique mail order program was created to<br />
complement the network pharmacy benefit. Since most<br />
maintenance (longterm) medications are purchased in 90day<br />
supplies, members maximize savings and have the<br />
convenience of home delivery (at no additional charge) by<br />
ordering through the mail order option.<br />
To Locate Providers in Your Area:<br />
■ Call 800.800.7616 for Member Services if you have<br />
questions or need a provider.<br />
■ Log onto www.locateproviders.com and use code<br />
22203 as the group number under the “Groups”<br />
login section. Next, enter your zip code and the<br />
recommended mile radius of 100 to search for<br />
providers near you.<br />
■ Log onto www.rxpricequotes.com to search by<br />
drug and zip code to get the best deal in town.<br />
Pharmacist Help Desk:<br />
■ For questions about joining processing,<br />
call the Help Desk at 877.448.6182.<br />
■ You can email to join at<br />
nominations@newbenefits.com.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 41
Statement<br />
of Operations<br />
For the period 01/01/<strong>2011</strong> – 06/30/<strong>2011</strong><br />
42 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Karissa Jonas, Controller<br />
We are pleased to report that the KIUC results<br />
of operations through June 30, <strong>2011</strong>, are strong<br />
as the weak economy continues to show<br />
measurable signs of recovery. Electricity usage on<br />
the island is 3 percent higher than in the prior<br />
year. Regardless of the improved sales volume,<br />
KIUC is still doing everything it can, while<br />
maintaining safety and reliability, to reduce costs<br />
to operate efficiently and effectively, and continue<br />
to maintain a strong financial position.<br />
Revenues, expenses and net margins totaled<br />
$89.8 million, $83.3 million and $6.5 million,<br />
respectively, for the sixmonth period ending June<br />
30, <strong>2011</strong>.<br />
As is the case for all electric utilities, the cost of<br />
power generation is the largest expense, totaling<br />
$54.4 million, or 60.5 percent of revenues. Fuel<br />
costs are the largest component of power<br />
generation, totaling $47.2 million, or 52.5 percent<br />
of revenues, and representing 86.7 percent of the<br />
cost of power generation. The remaining $7.2<br />
million, or 8.0 percent of revenues and 13.3<br />
percent of the cost of power generation,<br />
represents the cost of operating and maintaining<br />
the generating units.<br />
Percentage of Total Revenue<br />
Taxes<br />
8.4%<br />
Depreciation &<br />
Amortization<br />
7.4%<br />
Administrative &<br />
General<br />
Net of Non-Operating<br />
Margins<br />
6.4%<br />
Marketing &<br />
Communications<br />
0.5%<br />
Interest<br />
4.9%<br />
Member Services<br />
1.8%<br />
Net Margins<br />
7.2%<br />
Transmission & Distribution<br />
Operation & Maintenance<br />
2.9%<br />
Production Operation &<br />
Maintenance<br />
8.0%<br />
Fuel & Purchased<br />
Power Costs<br />
52.5%<br />
The cost of operating and maintaining the<br />
electric lines totaled $2.5 million, or 2.9 percent<br />
of total revenues. The cost of servicing our<br />
members totaled $1.6 million, or 1.8 percent of<br />
revenues. The cost of keeping our members<br />
informed totaled $0.5 million, or 0.5 percent of<br />
revenues. Administrative and general costs—<br />
which include legislative and regulatory expenses,<br />
engineering, executive, human resources, safety<br />
and facilities, information services, financial and<br />
corporate services, and board of director<br />
expenses—totaled $6.0 million, or 6.7 percent of<br />
revenues.<br />
Being very capital intensive, depreciation and<br />
amortization of the utility plant costs $6.7 million,<br />
or 7.4 percent of revenues. Although not subject<br />
to federal income taxes, state and local taxes<br />
amounted to $7.5 million, or 8.4 percent of<br />
revenues. Interest on longterm debt, at a<br />
favorable sub5 percent interest rate, totaled $4.3<br />
million, or 4.9 percent of revenues. Nonoperating<br />
net margins added $0.2 million to overall net<br />
margins. Revenues less total expenses equal<br />
margins of $6.5 million, or 7.2 percent of<br />
revenues. Margins are allocated to consumer<br />
members and paid when appropriate.
Simple<br />
Pleasures<br />
A Hanalei Bay Sunset.<br />
Photo by Shelley Paik.<br />
Parting Shot<br />
Members of the KIUC board and management visited Washington, D.C. to discuss the future of<br />
KIUC on Kaua‘i, especially to update them on what has happened in the past years and how KIUC<br />
is moving forward. A side trip was made to General Shinseki, secretary of Veteran’s Affairs. He<br />
was a perfect host to KIUC representatives in his private office.<br />
We are always looking for interesting items to feature in SImple Pleasures and Parting Shot. If you have an item to share with<br />
readers, please email currents@kiuc.coop or send it to: KIUC Currents, 4463 Pahe‘e Street, Suite 1, Līhu‘e, HI 967662000.<br />
AUGUST <strong>2011</strong> 43
<strong>August</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />
Volume 8, Number 4<br />
<strong>2011</strong>2012 KIUC Board of Directors<br />
Chairman: Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian<br />
Vice Chairman: Steve M. Rapozo<br />
Treasurer: David Iha<br />
Secretary: Allan Smith<br />
Board: Carol Bain, Stu Burley, Ben Sullivan,<br />
Jan TenBruggencate, Peter Yukimura<br />
Finance & Audit<br />
Chairman: Allan Smith<br />
Members: Stu Burley, Jan TenBruggencate,<br />
Peter Yukimura<br />
Government Relations/Legislative Affairs<br />
Chairman: David Iha<br />
Members: Stu Burley, Steve Rapozo, Allan<br />
Smith<br />
Member Relations<br />
Chairman: Steve Rapozo<br />
Members: Carol Bain, Ben Sullivan,<br />
Jan TenBruggencate<br />
Nominating Committee<br />
Chairman: Peter Yukimura<br />
Policy<br />
Chairman: Peter Yukimura<br />
Members: Carol Bain, Stu Burley, Ben Sullivan<br />
Strategic Planning<br />
Chairman: Ben Sullivan<br />
Members: Carol Bain, David Iha, Jan<br />
TenBruggencate, Peter Yukimura<br />
4463 Pahe‘e Street, Suite 1<br />
Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i 967662000<br />
808.246.4300 ■ www.kiuc.coop<br />
currents@kiuc.coop<br />
HI-130<br />
Powerlines<br />
The recent weeks have been exciting in terms of our<br />
renewable energy progress, especially with the announcement<br />
of A&B’s plan to develop a 6MW photovoltaic facility in Po‘ipu.<br />
The completed facility will be the largest on Kaua‘i, and when<br />
added to the existing<br />
1MW facility in Kapa‘a and the planned 3MW facility in Po‘ipu,<br />
KIUC likely will have the highest percentage of solar on its system<br />
anywhere in the country.<br />
KIUC continues to work toward its portfolio approach<br />
to renewable energy to reduce dependence on imported oil and increase the amount of energy<br />
generated from Kaua‘i’s resources. In this issue we discuss the hydro vote and give a great pictorial<br />
of an existing hydroelectric project on Kaua‘i. The hydro communication process thus far has<br />
gained support of many, including our state representatives and senator, the mayor, some county<br />
council members, DLNR and other influential people in the community. We sincerely believe this<br />
process is the right thing for Kaua‘i to responsibly investigate potential hydro power. The KIUC<br />
Board of Directors is committed to this process through a Board Resolution that can be found on<br />
our website and is featured in part in this issue.<br />
An issue has surfaced in the past few days involving a group of petitioners questioning KIUC’s<br />
determination that a second petition calling for a member meeting on the board of directors’<br />
May 29 decisions did not have the required number of signatures to necessitate further action.<br />
We want you to know that we took a great amount of time and care in vetting all petitioners’<br />
signatures, and know that the results of this process are accurate. For your information, KIUC<br />
has included in this issue of Currents an explanation of the petition validation process.<br />
Also in this issue of Currents we are pleased to showcase Kaua‘i’s representatives to the<br />
National Rural Electric <strong>Cooperative</strong>s, Washington, D.C., Youth Tour. This is the eighth year KIUC<br />
has sent representatives on the tour, which is also known as “a trip of a lifetime!” The students<br />
had a wonderful time walking the same halls as some of the greatest leaders of our nation,<br />
visiting landmarks that represent the very core of what this nation stands for and discussing<br />
current issues with current leaders in Washington. John Medeiros of Waimea High School also<br />
served as Kaua‘i’s representative to the Youth Leadership Council, which met again in D.C. in<br />
July. John will be attending NRECA’s Annual Meeting in February, and will have the honor of<br />
carrying the Hawaiian flag at the opening ceremonies.<br />
If you missed the quarterly updates in late July or early <strong>August</strong>, we discussed how KIUC is<br />
moving forward with renewable energy, the new smart grid project and KIUC’s latest venture<br />
into social media. Much of this information we have included in this issue of Currents but we<br />
encourage you to follow us on twitter and/or Facebook to stay informed on uptodate<br />
happenings at our coop.<br />
Mahalo,<br />
David Bissell