KIUC's Energy Wise Guys - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
KIUC's Energy Wise Guys - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
KIUC's Energy Wise Guys - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
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April 2010<br />
KIUC’s<br />
<strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Wise</strong> <strong>Guys</strong>
Aloha <strong>Island</strong> Properties<br />
EXCEEDING YOUR EXPECTATIONS<br />
(808) 246-0334<br />
Sun Village<br />
Meticulously maintained 2 Bed, 1 Bath ground<br />
floor; very private with tranquil garden views.<br />
Must see to appreciate the gorgeous upgrades.<br />
REDUCED to $175,000(lh). MUST SEE!<br />
Also available is a 1 Bedroom, 1 bath with low<br />
maintenance laminate flooring, freshly painted<br />
interior and upgraded bath with granite<br />
countertops and tile floors. ONLY $102,500(lh).<br />
Short sale. One resident must be 55 years of age<br />
or older. Call: Karen Agudong® 652-0677 or Judy<br />
Piano(RA) 651-9230.<br />
<strong>Island</strong>er on the Beach #142 and #143<br />
Hawai‘ian-Style OCEANFRONT property located along<br />
the beautiful Coconut Coast of Kapaa/Kaua‘i. This<br />
ground floor unit is located directly across from the<br />
swimming pool and ONLY steps from a quiet and<br />
beautiful sandy beach. Sold COMPLETELY furnished,<br />
it includes attractive Travertine stone flooring, undercabinet<br />
lighting at the kitchenette area, a small<br />
refrigerator, microwave and small sink. The entire<br />
unit is decorated in Hawai‘ian-style decor. Your<br />
“calm-meter” will start soaring the moment you walk<br />
in the door. $128,000(fs) Call: Kay Leonard(RA) 634-<br />
8697 or Karen Agudong(R) 652-0677.<br />
$8,000 Tax Credit<br />
for FIRST TIME<br />
HOMEBUYERS<br />
ends April 30, 2010<br />
4930 Hauaala Road, Kapaa -<br />
TWO HOMES for the PRICE of ONE!<br />
- REDUCED PRICE<br />
2 homes, 2 water meters, 2 electric meters and 2<br />
cesspools. Perfect for an extended family or live in<br />
one and rent the other. This could also be a great<br />
investment for someone looking for potential cash<br />
flow! $475,000(fs). Call: Karen Agudong(R) 652-0677<br />
or 246-0334.<br />
4130 Mano Street, Puhi (Lihue)<br />
Exceptional Rim Location with Beautiful Mountain and<br />
Valley Views. Located at the end of the cul-de-sac for<br />
enhanced privacy. Extra large lot (9,000 sf +) with<br />
additional room between neighbors. The interior has<br />
had beautiful upgrades in the kitchen; newer exterior<br />
siding and a finished 2 car garage. Excellent<br />
opportunity if you are looking for one of the best<br />
locations in Hokulei Estates! Call: Judy Piano(RA)<br />
651-9230 or Crystel Chong Tim(RA) 635-3484.<br />
Kaua‘i Beach Resort<br />
DIRECT OCEAN AND POOL VIEW unit at the Beautiful<br />
Kaua‘i Beach Resort. Excellent Third Floor Location.<br />
NOT a Short sale. Sold Furnished. Interior has<br />
beautiful upgrades of Travertine Flooring and Granite<br />
Counters. Kaua‘i Beach Resort is an oceanfront resort<br />
on 12 beautiful lushly landscaped acres, including<br />
Tranquil Waterfalls and 3 Swimming Pools, one of<br />
which is a Sand Bottom Swimming Pool with a<br />
Fantastic Water Slide. Just STEPS away from a<br />
Beautiful White Sand Beach! $99,000(fs) Call: Sharon<br />
Gibson(RA) 635-1530 or Bonnie Stowe(RA) 652-5611.<br />
Pikake Subdivision - Golf<br />
Course and Mountain Views<br />
Largest lot for Sale in the Pikake Subdivision with<br />
approximately 15,066 s.f. of land! The Unique<br />
positioning of this lot provides a special privacy. Flag lot<br />
Driveway opens up to a large parcel that extends beyond<br />
several other lots. Gorgeous and Up Close Mountain<br />
Views. Guest House possible. Seller Financing may be<br />
Available. $399,000(fs). Also available is a large 11,307<br />
sf lot at the end of the cul-de-sac. Flag lot, slightly<br />
elevated above its neighboring property, enhancing the<br />
Gorgeous Golf Course and Haupu Mountain Views.<br />
$349,000(fs). This dynamic Golf Course Subdivision in<br />
Lihue is exceptionally located for in town conveniences.<br />
Call: Karen Agudong(R) 652-0677 or Charlotte<br />
Barefoot(R) 651-4627.<br />
5093 Kahana Street, Kapaa<br />
Immaculately maintained home with almost 180<br />
degrees of Ocean, Mountain and pastoral views!<br />
Excellent Curb appeal with even more than meets the<br />
eye. This beautiful home is much larger than it seems<br />
with almost 1500 s.f of Lanai. Beautifully maintained<br />
interior featuring cathedral ceilings and hardwood<br />
floors. Additional Screened in Lanai off of the Dining<br />
Area adds to the spaciousness. Upper Lanai of<br />
approximately 320 s.f. with gorgeous views and a<br />
private setting. There is a separate lower level of<br />
approximately 1164 s.f, featuring a fabulous and<br />
unanticipated covered lanai addition, perfect for<br />
entertaining or just relaxing. This home is a definite<br />
“Must See”. You will be impressed the moment you<br />
walk through the door. Call: Karen Agudong(R)<br />
652-0677 or Kay Leonard(RA) 634-8697.<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
April 2010<br />
Volume 7, Number 2<br />
Table of Contents<br />
Resurgence in Heat Pump Water<br />
Heating Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4<br />
Residential <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Wise</strong> Practices Checklist. . . . . . . 6<br />
A Picture’s Worth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8<br />
QMARP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9<br />
Renewable Outlook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10<br />
Light Up a Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11<br />
Load Shedding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12<br />
Official Results of 2010 KIUC<br />
Board of Directors Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14<br />
A Message From the Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15<br />
2010 KIUC Board of Directors Committees . . . . . . 15<br />
Tacbian Honored by Filipino Chamber . . . . . . . . . . 16<br />
AlohaVote & Merriman River Group. . . . . . . . . . . . 17<br />
2010 Census Stand Up and Be Counted. . . . . . . . 18<br />
KIUC Keiki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20<br />
KIUC in the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23<br />
KIUC Seabird Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27<br />
Coop Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28<br />
Outage: What Happens & What You Can Do . . . . . 30<br />
KIUC & PETRA Solar Join Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32<br />
KIUC Completes & Energizes Photovoltaic<br />
Project at Port Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32<br />
KIUC’s Recent Outages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33<br />
Pack Up <strong>Energy</strong> Savings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34<br />
Ono Pupu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36<br />
Statement of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38<br />
Simple Pleasures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39<br />
Parting Shot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39<br />
Powerlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40<br />
KIUC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.<br />
On the cover: Claurino Bueno, Ray Mierta and<br />
Paul Daniels make up the “<strong>Energy</strong><strong>Wise</strong>” team.<br />
Photo by Shelley Paik.<br />
4463 Pahe‘e Street, Suite 1, Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i 967662000<br />
808.246.4300 ◼ www.kiuc.coop ◼ currents@kiuc.coop<br />
KIUC BOARD MEMBERS<br />
Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian,<br />
Chairman<br />
Peter Yukimura, Vice Chair<br />
David Iha, Secretary<br />
Allan A. Smith, Treasurer<br />
Carol Bain<br />
Stu Burley<br />
Steve Rapozo<br />
Jan TenBruggencate<br />
Ben Sullivan<br />
PRESIDENT & CEO<br />
Randall J. Hee<br />
EDITOR<br />
Anne Barnes<br />
Marketing,<br />
Communications<br />
& Public Affairs<br />
ASSISTANT EDITORS<br />
Maile Moriguchi<br />
Shelley Paik<br />
Marketing,<br />
Communications<br />
& Public Affairs<br />
Pam Blair<br />
Ruralite Services<br />
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS<br />
Anne Barnes<br />
Claurino Bueno<br />
Paul Daniels<br />
Matthew Fitch<br />
Randall J. Hee<br />
Carey Koide<br />
Maile Moriguchi<br />
Barbara Nagamine<br />
Shelley Paik<br />
Steve Rymsha<br />
Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian<br />
Only active KIUC members will be mailed KIUC Currents. KIUC Currents can be found online at www.kiuc.coop under Member<br />
Information and Currents on the website.
ENERGY WISE<br />
Resurgence in Heat Pump Water<br />
Heating Technology<br />
KIUC announces availability of rebate for heat pump water heating<br />
4 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Ray Mierta<br />
We all know how good a long hot shower can feel<br />
after a tough day at work or a long day at the 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.<br />
Not much is known about that invention, but the<br />
first storage water heater dates to 1889. A<br />
Norwegian immigrant invented the first<br />
commercially available water heater in Pennsylvania.<br />
Edwin Rudd designed the first of what would later<br />
become the modern storage water heater.<br />
While there still may be a few wood heaters<br />
around that were common on the plantations, and<br />
at one time there were dieselfueled heaters on<br />
Kaua‘i, most of the water on the island is heated<br />
with electricity and solar. About one third of the<br />
homes on Kaua‘i have solar water heating. The<br />
average allelectric home on Kaua‘i spends up to<br />
half of its monthly electric use on heating water.<br />
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. On the mainland,<br />
heat pump technology is used within a single unit<br />
to provide both heating and cooling to a home.<br />
On Kaua‘i, heat pumps are best used for heating<br />
water. There are an undetermined number of heat<br />
pump water heaters on Kaua‘i. The technology<br />
here suffered from poor product design, resulting<br />
in questionable reliability, and a lack of<br />
understanding about how the units operated.<br />
Although they are installed by a plumber and the<br />
installation is similar to a conventional electric<br />
water heater, maintenance, troubleshooting and<br />
repair service were nonexistent.<br />
That is changing. <strong>Energy</strong> prices are remaining<br />
high and for longer periods of time, bringing a<br />
renewed interest to heat pump water heating<br />
technology. The heat pump industry use to consist<br />
of small regional manufacturers without the<br />
ability to widely distribute product or provide<br />
service and repairs.
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. <strong>Energy</strong><br />
Star has created efficiency standards for heat<br />
pump water heaters. Only Rheem and General<br />
Electric have received <strong>Energy</strong> Star certification.<br />
Both manufacturers supply a 10year parts<br />
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 Kaua‘i—<br />
it is less expensive to heat water with a heat pump<br />
water heater than a standard electric water heater.<br />
Estimated Savings<br />
A standard electric water heater can use about<br />
4,200 kilowatthours (kWh) or about $1,386 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 $859. 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 30 percent<br />
tax credit on the total cost of a heat pump water<br />
heater through the end of 2010. In addition, KIUC<br />
is offering a $300 rebate incentive for the<br />
purchase of any <strong>Energy</strong> Starrated heat pump<br />
water heater. Only <strong>Energy</strong> Starrated models<br />
qualify for the KIUC rebate. Payback on the<br />
purchase price and installation cost, with the tax<br />
credits and KIUC rebate, is about 14 months.<br />
Heat Pump or Solar?<br />
Nothing beats solar. Solar water heating can<br />
cut water heating costs by up to 90 percent. A<br />
heat pump water heater cannot do that, but the<br />
price is much lower than solar water heating,<br />
making it a viable alternative when considering<br />
your budget or when solar is not technically<br />
feasible. The ideal location for a heat pump<br />
water heater is a room 10x10x7, or any open<br />
area such as a carport or a garage.<br />
If your existing electric water heater is in a small<br />
closet, you may need to add venting to the closet<br />
area so the cool air that is rejected by the heat<br />
pump water heater can dissipate. Your installing<br />
plumber can help with location requirements.<br />
Where to Buy<br />
<strong>Energy</strong> Starrated heat pump water heaters are<br />
available on Kaua‘i from local distributers and<br />
retail outlets. Local manufacturers’ reps can install<br />
and service your heat pump water heater for you.<br />
Visit www.kiuc.coop for more information<br />
regarding availability and for a Heat Pump Water<br />
Heater Rebate Application.<br />
APRIL 2010 5
By Claurino Bueno<br />
Residential <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Wise</strong><br />
Practices Checklist<br />
Residential<br />
<strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Wise</strong><br />
Practices<br />
Checklist<br />
6 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
<strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Wise</strong> Programs<br />
Phone: 808.246.8284<br />
808.246.8280<br />
Fax: 808.246.8268<br />
Water Heating<br />
■ Install solar water heating.<br />
■ Set water heater temperature to 120 F.<br />
■ Insulate the water heater. Note: Electric<br />
water heaters installed after 1992 do not<br />
require additional insulation.<br />
■ Flush sediments annually to prevent<br />
premature corrosion and to allow designed<br />
storage volume.<br />
■ Repair hot water leaks.<br />
Cooling<br />
■ Consider using fans in lieu of air conditioning.<br />
■ Open windows and utilize trade winds.<br />
■ Consider ceiling and wall insulation.<br />
■ Seal windows and doors.<br />
■ Properly sized air conditioning<br />
units use less energy. Size units<br />
40 to 50 BTUs per square foot of<br />
living space.<br />
Refrigerators<br />
■ Maintain temperature between 37 F and 40 F.<br />
■ Maintain 0 F to 5 F in the freezer<br />
compartment.<br />
■ Keep unit 75 percent to 95 percent full<br />
without obstructing airflow.<br />
■ Clean coils regularly.<br />
■ Install away from any heat source.<br />
■ Replace an older unit with a newer<br />
<strong>Energy</strong> Star model.<br />
■ Eliminate the use of a second<br />
refrigerator.<br />
■ Households with multiple units should<br />
consider replacing with a single larger<br />
unit.<br />
A larger unit in place of two smaller units will cost less to operate.
Freezers<br />
■ Manual defrost units requires defrosting<br />
at ¼inch frost build up.<br />
■ Maintain 0 F to 5 F.<br />
■ Keep 75 percent to 95 percent full without obstructing airflow.<br />
■ Clean coils regularly.<br />
■ Install away from any heat source.<br />
■ Replace an older unit with a newer <strong>Energy</strong> Star model.<br />
■ Eliminate the use of an additional freezer.<br />
Electric Clothes Dryers<br />
■ Avoid using an electric clothes dryer; consider using a<br />
laundry line.<br />
■ Dry full loads; consider combining loads to reduce dryer<br />
use.<br />
■ Clean lint trap and exhaust vent regularly.<br />
■ When purchasing a new dryer, consider an <strong>Energy</strong> Star<br />
model.<br />
Clothes Washers<br />
■ Avoid washing with hot and warm water. Use cold water only.<br />
■ Presoak heavily soiled loads.<br />
■ Combine loads to reduce washer use.<br />
■ Purchase frontloading washers, which consume less water per load.<br />
■ Replace an older unit with a newer <strong>Energy</strong> Star model.<br />
Dishwashers<br />
■ Consider using the dishwasher in lieu of manually<br />
washing dishes.<br />
■ Avoid using the heat dry cycle.<br />
■ Operate using full loads only.<br />
Lighting<br />
■ Turn lights off when not in use.<br />
■ Use fluorescent or CFLs in high use areas.<br />
■ Replace several small bulbs with one bulb.<br />
■ Decorate wall surfaces with light reflective colors.<br />
■ Utilize natural sunlight whenever possible.<br />
■ Keep lighting fixtures and covers clean.<br />
■ Consider installing photocell and motion detector units for exterior lighting.<br />
In General<br />
■ Maintain your appliances. Wellmaintained appliances operate efficiently.<br />
■ Replace aging appliances with <strong>Energy</strong> Star models.<br />
■ Turn off televisions, fans, lights and computers when not needed.<br />
■ Unplug battery, cell phone and laptop chargers when not charging.<br />
APRIL 2010 7
8 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
<strong>Energy</strong> management strategies benefit KIUC members and the environment. To<br />
help members save energy and money, KIUC offers nine energyefficiency programs<br />
designed specifically to help manage energy costs and promote the efficient use<br />
of electricity.<br />
■ Efficient Appliance Replacement Program<br />
■ Qualifying Member Appliance Replacement Program (QMARP)<br />
■ Solar Water Heating Savings Pilot Program<br />
■ Solar Rebate Program ($800 rebate)<br />
■ Solar Loan Program (zeropercent interest loan)<br />
■ Appliance Meter Service<br />
■ Residential Home Visit Program<br />
■ New Member Lighting Program<br />
■ Commercial Retrofit Program<br />
For details on KIUC’s <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Wise</strong> Programs, please contact us at 246.8280 or visit www.kiuc.coop.<br />
For additional information on any of the <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Wise</strong> Practices and <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Wise</strong> Programs mentioned<br />
in this article, please contact our <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Wise</strong> office. For residential services call 808.246.8280 or<br />
808.246.8284. For commercial services call 808.246.8275.<br />
By Paul Daniels<br />
A Picture’s Worth...<br />
Featured in this issue of A Picture’s Worth is<br />
Men’s Hardwear, located in Kapa’a, two doors<br />
down from the ABC Store and across from Kela’s<br />
Gallery. The unique shop, specializing in men’s<br />
jewelry, carries accessories to suit a variety of<br />
tastes. It is a division of Grande’s Gems, with<br />
locations at Kilohana Plantation, Kaua‘i Marriott<br />
Resort and the Coconut Marketplace.<br />
If you have a business, large or small, and want to participate in<br />
the Commercial <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Wise</strong> Program, call Paul Daniels at 246.8275.<br />
Androcles Handy, pictured, and his wife, Tiffany<br />
Grande, are deeply involved in this family venture,<br />
started by Tiffany’s parents in 1982.<br />
As explained by Androcles, “Grande’s, having<br />
four woman’s jewelry stores in Hawai‘i, felt a need<br />
to have a store just for the guys—a cool and edgy<br />
guy’s store with jewelry, knives and watches, and<br />
oneofkind pearl and opal designs.”<br />
A sense of style isn’t the only business<br />
attribute found here. There also is a<br />
need to manage costs and expenses.<br />
Men’s Hardwear just converted from<br />
50watt halogen to 4watt lightemitting<br />
diode (LED) technology. This equates to<br />
a 93percent reduction in lighting costs.<br />
This is not the first energyefficiency<br />
measure implemented by this savvy<br />
business. Grande’s at the Marketplace<br />
completed an extensive energy lighting<br />
conversion to ceramic metal halide and<br />
included energyefficient compact<br />
fluorescent lamps at its Marriott<br />
location—both in early 2009, with more<br />
projects in the planning. All were done<br />
with the assistance of KIUC’s <strong>Energy</strong><br />
<strong>Wise</strong> Program.<br />
Thanks to the Grande’s Ohana for its continued<br />
support of KIUC’s energy goals.
QMARP<br />
KIUC is giving away free refrigerators. What’s the catch? You have to qualify.<br />
The Qualified Member Appliance<br />
Replacement Program (QMARP) was<br />
developed to help qualifying lowincome<br />
seniors (age 60+) reduce their<br />
residential energy use by replacing<br />
older, less efficient refrigerators with<br />
new, more efficient ones at no cost to<br />
the participating member.<br />
After electric water heating,<br />
refrigerators are the secondhighest<br />
energy consuming appliance in a<br />
home. It may not make economic<br />
sense to install a solar water heater in<br />
a small family of one or two. The<br />
amount of water heated for a small<br />
family may not warrant it. However,<br />
replacing a refrigerator can make<br />
good economic sense.<br />
Improvements in the efficiency of refrigerators<br />
have increased significantly. In 1972, the average<br />
refrigerator used more than 1,800 kilowatthours<br />
(kWh) a year. Thanks to new standards,<br />
refrigerators average less than 500 kWh a year. As<br />
electric rates and the price of refrigerators<br />
increase, replacing an aging, less efficient model<br />
can be difficult for elderly members on fixed or<br />
limited incomes.<br />
The old refrigerator is removed from the house<br />
to be recycled. The replacement refrigerator as<br />
closely as possible matches the size and door<br />
configuration of the original.<br />
The savings to the participant varies depending<br />
on the age and condition of the older refrigerator.<br />
The older the model, the greater the reduction is<br />
likely to be for the customer. The energy savings is<br />
sustained over the life of the refrigerator, which<br />
typically is 10 to 12 years.<br />
KIUC was pleased to provide Teresita Gregg of Kekeha with a new<br />
sidebyside refrigerator last year.<br />
By Ray Mierta<br />
KIUC partners with the County of Kaua‘i Office<br />
of Elderly Affairs to make this program possible.<br />
The two collaborate on the marketing side. The<br />
county makes the initial contact and determines<br />
the candidate’s eligibility. Once the income level<br />
and age has been verified, the county contacts<br />
KIUC, which initiates a visit to the home to help<br />
with energy education and collect the information<br />
necessary to replace the refrigerator.<br />
If you or someone you know wants to apply for<br />
this program, please review the guidelines below<br />
and contact the County of Kaua‘i Office of Elderly<br />
Affairs, 241.4487.<br />
Qualified Member Appliance<br />
Replacement Program (QMARP)<br />
Eligibility:<br />
◼ Home owner must be 60 years or older.<br />
◼ Household must meet Federal Poverty Income Guidelines for the<br />
program year. Eligibility is based on total gross household income<br />
from all sources.<br />
◼ Refrigerator replaced must be the primary refrigerator. Existing unit<br />
will be removed from the residence.<br />
APRIL 2010 9
10 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Steve Rymsha<br />
RENEWABLE OUTLOOK<br />
KIUC’s Update on Projects<br />
in Progress and Completed<br />
The board and management of KIUC are<br />
committed to decreasing the island’s reliance on<br />
imported fossil fuels and replacing that generation<br />
with homegrown renewable energy resources.<br />
That not only will aid the environment, but will<br />
offer members more stable rates due to less<br />
volatility from world oil prices.<br />
Here is a recap of actions the coop has taken<br />
toward the renewable energy goals in its strategic<br />
plan. KIUC’s 2009 renewable portfolio standard<br />
was 14 percent, and the coop is on target to<br />
reach the goal of more than 50 percent by 2023.<br />
Green <strong>Energy</strong> Hydro LLC – 130 kW<br />
◼ 170 homes annually<br />
◼ Began operations in Q3 2009<br />
Port Allen Warehouse<br />
◼ Building integrated photovoltaic systems<br />
completed the first week of February.<br />
◼ Replaced roof and installed 68 kW<br />
roofintegrated photovoltaic system—<br />
20 homes annually<br />
PoleMount PV – full potential 1 MW<br />
◼ Two demonstration systems installed in January.<br />
◼ A number of systems will be installed in 2010<br />
to test and evaluate the technology.<br />
(See page 34 for full story)<br />
GroundMount PV<br />
◼ Good progress on 2 MW to 5 MW to be<br />
completed in 2010 and 2011<br />
◼ 400 to 1,000 homes annually<br />
◼ Projects pending on private lands in Waimea,<br />
Koloa, Kilauea<br />
Biomass<br />
Finalizing PacWest Purchase Power Agreement,<br />
which will create jobs and provide 30 percent of<br />
Kaua‘i electricity by the second half of 2012; Green<br />
<strong>Energy</strong> Hawai‘i continues to work toward<br />
development of the 6.4MW biomass facility and<br />
plans to be operational in 2012<br />
Concentrating Solar Thermal<br />
◼ Issued Letter of Intent for 10 MW facility<br />
◼ Project to be located on private land in<br />
Waimea/Kekaha; beginning Purchase Power<br />
Agreement negotiations<br />
Waste Oil – 1 million to 2 million<br />
gallons annually<br />
◼ Up to 2,800 homes annually<br />
◼ PUC approved contract – Docket 20080315<br />
◼ KIUC will begin purchasing waste oil from<br />
Kaua‘i <strong>Energy</strong> LLC<br />
◼ Waste oil will power S1<br />
◼ While not a renewable source, it is a recycled<br />
source that displaces 1 million to 2 million<br />
gallons of virgin fossil fuel annually
KIUC is partnering with the Kaua‘i Food Bank to<br />
build awareness about hunger on Kaua‘i and<br />
encourage food donations for families on Kaua‘i.<br />
KIUC is a drop off center for the 2010 spring food<br />
drive. The coop will accept donations of tuna,<br />
pasta, rice, canned meat and canned vegetables or<br />
a check made out to the Kaua‘i Food Bank,<br />
located at the Hana Kukui Center in Līhu‘e.<br />
About 300 members visit KIUC offices<br />
daily to conduct utility business. If only a<br />
small number bring a food donation, it<br />
will make a big difference. Called Light<br />
Up A Life, the promotion offers one free<br />
compact fluorescent light bulb for a<br />
minimum donation of $5—either food or<br />
a check made out to the Kaua‘i Food<br />
Bank. The donation can be made at the<br />
main KIUC office on Pahee Street in<br />
Līhu‘e. The lobby receptionist will accept<br />
the donation and issue the bulbs Monday<br />
through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.<br />
The highquality bulb replaces a<br />
standard 75watt incandescent bulb. In a<br />
typical home, it will save about $50 a year<br />
in electric costs.<br />
By Ray Mierta<br />
Light Up A Life<br />
Spend $5 on food and save up to $50 off your electric bill!<br />
KIUC wants to help Light Up A Life of those in<br />
need by helping to collect food and providing<br />
energysaving light bulbs to help members’<br />
energyefficiency efforts.<br />
For more information, call KIUC <strong>Energy</strong> Services<br />
at 246.8284.<br />
Kilauea School’s 2nd Annual<br />
Chili Cook Off and Music Fest<br />
Saturday, May 8th, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.<br />
Kilauea School<br />
Some of the chili contestants include Papaya’s in Hanalei, Scotty’s,<br />
Pau Hana Pizza, Hanalima Bakery and Oceans by the Beach at the Waipouli Resort<br />
It is a community event with free entertainment and just an<br />
$8 donation<br />
for a chili plate from some of Kaua‘i’s best chefs.<br />
Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winner Kupaoa, Aloha Breeze, Rumbletone, Kilauea School’s<br />
Ukulele Band presented by John Kaneholani and Kilauea School’s very own 3rd and 4th<br />
grade students will mele and ‘oli presented by Kumu Naomi Yokotake will be performing!!<br />
Thanks to our many sponsors such as KIUC, Aqua Engineers, Unlimited Construction,<br />
Resort Group, Hanalima Bakery, Oceans by the Beach, Papaya’s, Scotty’s and Pau Hana Pizza.<br />
APRIL 2010 11
12 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Maile Moriguchi<br />
COOPERATIVE TECHNOLOGY<br />
Load Shedding<br />
Photos by Shelley Paik<br />
Keeping the lights on isn’t a cakewalk.<br />
Electricity, unlike other commodities, must be<br />
produced on demand. Technology that will store it<br />
for future use, especially on any large scale, is still<br />
largely under development.<br />
If the electricity being produced can’t keep up<br />
with what is needed in real time, brownouts or<br />
blackouts could occur.<br />
To prevent this from happening, KIUC uses a<br />
load shedding schedule to protect the<br />
cooperative’s valuable generation equipment.<br />
“Although KIUC has not started its smart grid<br />
project yet, our grid is smart already,” said Mike<br />
Yamane, engineering manager for KIUC. “Load<br />
shedding is a selfhealing mechanism of our<br />
island grid.”<br />
When the coop’s generation system becomes<br />
overloaded, the grid institutes a systematic<br />
shutdown to prevent a catastrophic failure.<br />
Load shedding is essentially a load management<br />
program, which allows KIUC to reduce the<br />
demand on its system at critical times. It is an<br />
intentional and automatic reduction of load,<br />
designed to maintain system stability.<br />
“Generation megawatts equals load<br />
megawatts,” said Carey Koide, an engineer and<br />
support services manager for KIUC. “Lack of<br />
generation to meet load will reduce frequency,<br />
and may result in collapse of the system. A stable<br />
system operates at 60 hertz, but we fluctuate plus<br />
or minus 0.1 hertz. That is ‘loose’ compared to the<br />
mainland.”<br />
Because KIUC is not connected to a larger<br />
electrical grid like the mainland, its system<br />
frequency varies a lot more during normal<br />
operations. Because of this condition, when an<br />
event occurs—like a loss of a generating unit or<br />
frequency excursion caused by intermittent<br />
sources of generation like wind and solar—system<br />
frequency tends to decay a lot faster, which could<br />
result in load shedding.<br />
Equipment damage also could occur when<br />
system frequency drops below 57 hertz for an<br />
extended time.<br />
Power Plant Operator Manny Igaya and Assistant Power<br />
Plant Operator Kjell Newall check the monitors during<br />
breaker operations.
The coop has nine diesel engines,<br />
three combustion turbines, one steam<br />
plant and two hydro units. As the daily<br />
load fluctuates, KIUC prioritizes which<br />
units to use based on efficiency,<br />
economics and other operating criteria.<br />
The KPS steaminjected gas turbine is the<br />
most efficient unit and runs 24/7. As the<br />
load demand increases or decreases<br />
throughout each day, other units are<br />
used to serve members.<br />
KIUC has a load shedding schedule with four<br />
blocks. Each contains six to 12 feeder breakers.<br />
“It is done at the breaker level,” Koide<br />
explained. “It is prioritized, and spread across the<br />
system. It is not location specific.”<br />
Each breaker has a digital relay with a specific<br />
frequency set point, which automatically opens<br />
the breaker and disconnects its load from the rest<br />
of the system. As the system frequency<br />
approaches 57 hertz, more blocks will open until<br />
the frequency returns.<br />
Engineering reevaluates the load shed<br />
schedule on a regular basis, rotating it so<br />
everyone shares the pain during the selfhealing<br />
process. Most nonpriority breakers will<br />
experience outages due to load sheddriven<br />
events, but after the third event, the rotation<br />
moves them lower on the list. Another group of<br />
breakers will be the first to go in when the next<br />
load shed event occurs.<br />
Normal recovery from load shed incidents is 8<br />
to 12 minutes, depending on the generator<br />
involved. Generally, the larger the generator, the<br />
greater the recovery time.<br />
For example, the 26megawatt Kapaia Power<br />
Station (KPS) takes about 25 minutes to get to 6<br />
MW, then must wait for steam to be produced<br />
to get back to the unit’s full 26 MW capacity.<br />
That can take up to one hour. However, KIUC<br />
normally responds to a loss of a generating unit<br />
with its fasterstarting diesel units and<br />
combustion turbines.<br />
“Starting the unit is the first priority,” said<br />
Yamane. “We want to get the power back on as<br />
soon as possible. Once power is fully restored<br />
then we will try to figure out why a particular unit<br />
tripped off line.”<br />
Once additional generation is started up, key<br />
power plant personnel are notified of the incident.<br />
A dedicated telephone is routed to the call center<br />
so staff there can respond to customer questions.<br />
Communications staff also notifies the media with<br />
details about the locations involved in the load<br />
shed and the estimated restoration time.<br />
After each overhaul of a generating unit, a “breakin” period is<br />
conducted. Typically, the unit is run at increasing loads over set<br />
time periods as determined by manufacturer guidelines. During<br />
this time, KIUC typically runs additional generation to cover for<br />
any trips that may occur during testing of the unit.<br />
Assistant Power Plant<br />
Operator John “Scooby”<br />
Mattos tags switches during<br />
routine maintenance at the<br />
Port Allen Power Plant.<br />
APRIL 2010 13
14 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Shelley Paik<br />
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />
Official Results of<br />
2010 KIUC Board of Directors Election<br />
Photo by Shelley Paik<br />
The KIUC Board of Director’s Inauguration was held on March 30 in the KIUC Main Conference Room in Līhu‘e. New board member<br />
JanTenBruggencate, and returning board members Carol Bain and Allan A. Smith are sworn in by Judge Clifford Nakea.<br />
Carol Bain, Allan A. Smith and Jan<br />
TenBruggencate were elected to KIUC’s Board of<br />
Directors. These three new directors will each serve<br />
for a threeyear term ending in March 2013.<br />
KIUC received 6,761 ballots in this election. While<br />
there were three available director slots to fill, not<br />
all voters chose to exercise all three votes on their<br />
ballot; therefore, the number of votes may not<br />
equal the total number of ballots received.<br />
The official results of the 2010 Board of<br />
Directors election are as follows:<br />
1. Smith, Allan A. 4,323 21.34%<br />
2. TenBruggencate, Jan 4,126 20.36%<br />
3. Bain, Carol 3,240 15.99%<br />
4. Gegen, Pat 2,671 13.18%<br />
5. Medeiros, Carol 2,422 11.95%<br />
KIUC management, with the assistance of the<br />
Californiabased Merriman River Group, announced<br />
the official tally late on March 27.<br />
The newlyelected board members were<br />
inaugurated Tuesday, March 30.
Aloha,<br />
On February 22 and 23, 2010, we were visited by three members of the<br />
Ilocos Norte Electric <strong>Cooperative</strong>: General Manager Renato Balintec,<br />
P.E.E; Director Marlon Valdez from San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte; and Director<br />
Virgilio Calajate from Badoc/Pinili, Ilocos Norte. These leaders came to<br />
look at KIUC’s operations and discussed a possible sister cooperative<br />
relationship. Most of the Filipinos on Kaua‘i have their roots in Ilocos<br />
Norte, P. I. The members of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce joined<br />
KIUC in welcoming our visitors.<br />
Now that the Board of Directors election is over, I want to welcome<br />
firsttime Director Jan TenBruggencate to our KIUC ohana. Jan comes to<br />
us with a broad background in journalism and will be a welcome addition<br />
to the board. Allan Smith and Carol Bain were reelected to the board.<br />
The Legislative Committee continues to monitor bills that affect us as they go through the various<br />
committees in the Legislature. Engineering Manager Mike Yamane heads our efforts in this area.<br />
Our Strategic Planning Committee began implementing our strategic plan, working with our staff on a<br />
twoyear agenda for action. Each project is assigned to a specific department, which is responsible for<br />
carrying out the task to its completion. I want to thank Committee Chairman Peter Yukimura for<br />
completing the strategic plan in a timely manner. This year, the Strategic Planning Committee members<br />
are Ben Sullivan, chairman; David Iha and Steve Rapozo, members. Production Manager Brad Rockwell<br />
will oversee the staff.<br />
With everyone working together, KIUC is moving closer to the board’s goal of having 50 percent of our<br />
electricity from renewable sources by 2023.<br />
Mahalo,<br />
Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian<br />
Chairman, KIUC Board of Directors<br />
Chairman: Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian<br />
Vice Chairman: Peter Yukimura<br />
Treasurer: Allan Smith<br />
Secretary: David Iha<br />
Executive<br />
Chairman: Peter Yukimura<br />
Members: Allan Smith, David Iha and Phil<br />
Tacbian<br />
Finance & Audit<br />
Chairman: Allan Smith<br />
Members: Jan TenBruggencate, Peter Yukimura<br />
Government Relations/Legislative Affairs<br />
Chairman: David Iha<br />
Members: Allan Smith, Phil Tacbian<br />
A Message From the Chairman<br />
2010 KIUC Board of Directors<br />
Committees<br />
International<br />
Chairman: Peter Yukimura<br />
Members: Stu Burley<br />
Member Relations<br />
Chairman: Steve Rapozo<br />
Members: Carol Bain, Jan TenBruggencate<br />
Policy<br />
Chairman: Stu Burley<br />
Members: Carol Bain, Ben Sullivan<br />
Strategic Planning<br />
Chairman: Ben Sullivan<br />
Members: David Iha, Steve Rapozo<br />
APRIL 2010 15
By Anne Barnes<br />
Tacbian Honored by the Kaua‘i Filipino<br />
Chamber of Commerce<br />
16 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian, chairman of the KIUC<br />
Board of Directors, was presented the<br />
distinguished service award in the field of<br />
community service by the Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber<br />
of Commerce at its 10th anniversary awards dinner<br />
earlier this year. He serves on the coop’s Executive<br />
Committee, and before becoming chairman was<br />
treasurer of the KIUC board, chairman of the<br />
Government/ Legislative Committee and a member<br />
of the Finance Committee.<br />
Other recipients of distinguished service<br />
awards were Robert “Bobby” Ayonon, president<br />
of Kaua‘i Air Conditioning and Refrigeration,<br />
entrepreneurship; Mabel Jean Odo, preschool<br />
research teacher, education; Kathy Clark,<br />
president and chief executive officer of Wilcox<br />
Memorial Hospital, medicine; Dr. Mariano<br />
Torres, president of Mariano Torres MD Inc.,<br />
medicine; and Oscar Portugal, founding<br />
president of the Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of<br />
Commerce, president emeritus.<br />
Tacbian has been an independent insurance<br />
agent since 1961. For more than 28 years, he<br />
worked at the Garden <strong>Island</strong> Mortuary and<br />
Kalāpaki Bay Memorial Park, serving as president<br />
and manager, board member and general<br />
manager. Currently, he is a consultant to Kalāpaki<br />
Bay Memorial Park.<br />
An expert on<br />
parliamentary<br />
procedure, Tacbian<br />
teaches parliamentary<br />
procedure at Kaua‘i<br />
Community College<br />
and has been a<br />
consultant to county<br />
Photo by Carol Bain<br />
councils, boards and<br />
commissions<br />
throughout the state.<br />
Tacbian also has served as chairman of the<br />
county’s Board of Water Supply, vice chairman of<br />
the state’s Contractors Licensing Board,<br />
chairman and vice chairman of the state’s Land<br />
Use Commission, a congressional liaison to Sen.<br />
Daniel Akaka, volunteer coordinator of the Kaua‘i<br />
Civil Defense Agency, and president and director<br />
of the Kaua‘i County Public Improvement Corp.<br />
He has volunteered with the Kaua‘i Jaycees,<br />
Kaua‘i Easter Seals Society, Kawaihau Little<br />
League, Kapa‘a Pop Warner, Kapa‘a Swim Club,<br />
Kapa‘a Elementary PTA, Kaua‘i District PTA, and<br />
Child and Family Service.<br />
He previously was named Kaua‘i’s Outstanding<br />
Young Man by the Kaua‘i and West Kaua‘i<br />
Jaycees, is listed in the Outstanding Young Men<br />
of America, and was recognized as Insurance<br />
Agent of the Year by the Hawai‘i State<br />
Association of Life Underwriters.<br />
Congratulations, Phil.
KIUC selected the Merriman River Group to conduct the 2010 Board of Directors election.<br />
The company provided full service election management and ensured process integrity from<br />
start to finish by providing election programming, phone and online software, counting and tabulation.<br />
The bar had been set high during the past seven elections, and the team at Merriman River kept that<br />
standard as it lead us through our eighth election.<br />
AlohaVote & Merriman River Group<br />
Merriman River Group was founded in 1998 to<br />
provide election management services for<br />
organizations and political consulting services for<br />
public candidates in areas where it does not<br />
participate in election management.<br />
The team has extensive experience in election<br />
management. In 1990, the company was hired to<br />
help supervise the International Brotherhood of<br />
Teamsters (IBT) election, which the United States<br />
District Court for the Southern District of New<br />
York was overseeing under the terms of a consent<br />
decree reached in the 1988 case of United States<br />
of America v. International Brotherhood of<br />
Teamsters, et al., and the Commission of La Cosa<br />
Nostra, et al. (No. 88 Civ. 4486).<br />
Election management services have earned<br />
Merriman River a reputation for innovation,<br />
accuracy and integrity. The company has been<br />
selected to provide customized services on some<br />
of the world'’s largest private elections, including<br />
the 2001 and 2006 IBT international officer<br />
elections, with multiple divisions and about 1.5<br />
million members eligible to vote by mail.<br />
By Matthew Fitch<br />
Shelley Paik, KIUC Public Affairs Specialist<br />
Photo by Shelley Paik<br />
Merriman River offers advanced data, election<br />
and communications services to private<br />
organizations, public agencies, large corporations<br />
and major universities. It recently concluded the<br />
2008 National Leadership Index—the first report<br />
in a multiyear collaboration between Merriman<br />
River and the Center for Public Leadership at the<br />
Harvard Kennedy School.<br />
The company is pleased to feature VoterEdge<br />
software, which provides secure data<br />
transmissions, a simple and intuitive user<br />
interface, voter anonymity, powerful data<br />
collection and analytic tools. It has a fully<br />
integrated Internet and phone voting system<br />
working from the main database.<br />
A division of<br />
Merriman River<br />
KIUC mail ballot volunteers<br />
and Merriman River staff<br />
separate the envelopes and<br />
ballots for the election.<br />
APRIL 2010 17
2010 Census - Stand Up<br />
and Be Counted<br />
$800 Rebate<br />
100% Financing<br />
Zero Interest<br />
18 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
Hawai‘i residents are standing up and being<br />
counted in Census 2010. Nearly a third of Census<br />
2010 forms mailed to Hawai‘i residences in the first<br />
week of the count were mailed back, according to<br />
representatives at the State Department of Business<br />
Economic Development and Tourism.<br />
The U.S. Constitution requires the federal<br />
government to count everyone residing in the<br />
United States every 10 years. That includes all 50<br />
states, Washington, D.C., American Samoa, the<br />
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana <strong>Island</strong>s,<br />
Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin <strong>Island</strong>s.<br />
Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution<br />
specifies that congressional seats will be distributed<br />
proportionately among states on the basis of a<br />
census to be conducted every 10 years. Federal law<br />
penalizes those who do not fill out a form ($100<br />
fine) or who provide false information ($500 fine).<br />
The federal government allocates more than $300<br />
billion a year to states and communities based, in<br />
part, on census data. The money helps fund<br />
everything from roads and schools to health care<br />
and childcare centers.<br />
Questionnaires were mailed in March, and<br />
were due April 1. Census workers will conduct<br />
followup visits to residences who do not return<br />
forms. If every household mails back its form—<br />
more than 120 million have been mailed<br />
out—the government could save $1.5 billion in<br />
followup visits. If residents mail back their<br />
census form, it costs the government 42 cents<br />
compared to an estimated $56 to obtain a<br />
household’s census response in person.
Here are some other census facts:<br />
◼ One of the shortest census questionnaires in<br />
history, the 2010 Census has only 10 questions,<br />
which the Census Bureau estimates will take 10<br />
minutes to complete. Among the questions are<br />
whether a resident owns or rents, and<br />
information about each household member:<br />
name, sex, age, race and relationship to the<br />
person filling out the form.<br />
◼ The census asks how many people live or<br />
sleep in a given household as of April 1.<br />
Respondents should include babies born on<br />
or before April 1, 2010, as well as nonU.S.<br />
citizens. College students who live away from<br />
home and military personnel should not be<br />
counted on household surveys. Divorced<br />
parents who share custody of a child should<br />
indicate where a child usually lives.<br />
◼ Americans have been counted since 1790. The<br />
2010 Census is the 23rd head count in U.S.<br />
history. The first was conducted on Monday,<br />
August 2, 1790. The population then was 3.9<br />
million. This year’s official Census Day is April<br />
1. The expected population is 309 million.<br />
◼ The Census Bureau predicts twothirds of<br />
U.S. households will fill out and mail back the<br />
2010 Census. Among those least likely to<br />
return forms are illegal immigrants,<br />
Hispanics, young adults, city dwellers and<br />
residents displaced by foreclosures. Census<br />
takers will canvass city streets in an attempt<br />
to include the homeless.<br />
◼ Rural areas and places with a large poor<br />
population tend to benefit most from an<br />
accurate census. The largest state program<br />
that relies on federal census statistics is<br />
Medicaid, the government health care<br />
program for lowincome people.<br />
◼ In 2000, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona,<br />
Texas and North Carolina had belowaverage<br />
mail participation rates. Since then, they<br />
have seen higher rates of foreclosures. If<br />
responses are low this year, these states<br />
could be cheated of federal dollars and<br />
congressional seats.<br />
◼ This year, the government lined up a $130<br />
million campaign—complete with Super Bowl<br />
and Winter Olympics ads, a censussponsored<br />
NASCAR race car, and a<br />
nationwide road tour—to encourage people<br />
to mail back their census forms.<br />
◼ Census 2010 by the numbers: 360 million, 29<br />
miles, 11.6 million pounds. That is the total<br />
number of questionnaires printed (360<br />
million), how high they would stand stacked<br />
in a pile (29 miles high—more than five times<br />
higher than Mt. Everest) and the collective<br />
weight of the paper the questionnaires were<br />
printed on (11.6 million pounds). If stretched<br />
end to end, the questionnaires would circle<br />
the globe three times.<br />
All responses to the census are confidential<br />
and used for statistical purposes only. By law,<br />
the answers individuals give cannot be shared<br />
with anyone, including welfare, law enforcement<br />
or immigration agencies. Census workers take an<br />
oath to protect the confidentiality of the<br />
information provided.<br />
APRIL 2010 19
Keiki young and old have an opportunity to broaden their horizons and their minds<br />
through two special programs offered this summer by KIUC. Four high school<br />
students have earned the opportunity of a lifetime by winning an allexpensepaid<br />
trip to Washington, D.C. Exiting fifthgraders have a chance to spend two weeks<br />
having a blast while learning all about electricity.<br />
KIUC KEIKI<br />
Washington Youth Tour<br />
20 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
Photo by Shelley Paik<br />
Selected to represent KIUC in the nation’s<br />
capital for one week in midJune are Morgan<br />
Azeka of Kamehameha SchoolsKapalama, Beau<br />
Acoba of Waimea High School, Taylor Langstaff of<br />
Kapa‘a High School and ErinMarie Navarro of<br />
Kaua‘i High School.<br />
Since the early 1960s, the Washington Youth<br />
Tour (WYT)—sponsored by the National Rural<br />
Electric <strong>Cooperative</strong> Association (NRECA)—has<br />
drawn more than 1,300 high school students to<br />
Washington, D.C., each year.<br />
Students learn about electric cooperatives,<br />
American history and U.S. government. They<br />
attend educational seminars, visit with their<br />
representatives in the U.S. House and Senate, and<br />
see the sights around Washington, D.C.<br />
During the WYT, each state delegation selects<br />
a representative to the Youth Leadership Council<br />
(YLC), which builds leadership and public<br />
speaking skills, and enhances the delegates’<br />
knowledge of the energy industry and the<br />
cooperative form of business.<br />
Students have the opportunity to make<br />
presentations at cooperative meetings, and are<br />
invited to attend and participate in the NRECA<br />
Annual Meeting. The YLC selects a national<br />
spokesperson to address members at the NRECA<br />
Annual Meeting and the Youth Tour delegates the<br />
following year.<br />
Interested in participating in the 2011 trip?<br />
Watch Currents after the start of the next school<br />
year, or contact KIUC’s Maile Moriguchi at<br />
246.4348 or mmoriguchi@kiuc.coop.<br />
2009 Youth Tour winner Dustin Julian with KIUC CEO<br />
Randy Hee at the NRECA Annual Meeting in<br />
Atlanta, GA in February, 2010.
<strong>Energy</strong> Does Work<br />
Building off the success of last summer’s pilot<br />
program, KIUC will host exiting fifthgraders<br />
during a twoweek program designed to give the<br />
next generation of energy consumers the tools<br />
and inspiration needed to use energy<br />
responsibility.<br />
Through handson activities, experiments,<br />
guest speakers and tours of facilities, young<br />
people will be educated on the importance of<br />
energy efficiency and conservation.<br />
The curriculum—which was developed by local<br />
teacher Traci Sullivan, and taught not only by<br />
educators but KIUC staff—covers the following<br />
concepts:<br />
• What Is <strong>Energy</strong>?<br />
• Forms and Transformations of <strong>Energy</strong><br />
• The <strong>Energy</strong> Problem<br />
• <strong>Energy</strong> Choices<br />
• <strong>Energy</strong> Efficiency<br />
• Renewable Forms of <strong>Energy</strong><br />
Trey Delos Reyes and Saedy Tumaneng play the Guess Who electricity game.<br />
The 11 students from eight schools who<br />
participated last year played energy games, built<br />
hydrogen cars, constructed Lego windmills and<br />
visited the power plant in Port Allen.<br />
They worked together to problem solve<br />
and came to conclusions about energy,<br />
including how we use it and what our<br />
energy future might look like.<br />
They presented what they learned<br />
and wrote reports featured in Currents<br />
magazine. They also blogged about the<br />
program, and continue to blog.<br />
“Students named their program<br />
Zetetic Analyzers of Power Sources<br />
(ZAPS) and the name stuck,” said Maile<br />
Moriguchi, Community Relations<br />
Coordinator. “We’re now calling the<br />
program KIUC ZAPS.”<br />
Interested in participating in<br />
this summer’s program?<br />
Contact KIUC’s Maile Moriguchi<br />
at 246.4348 or<br />
mmoriguchi@kiuc.coop.<br />
2009 KIUC ZAPS Students<br />
APRIL 2010 21
Mini-Grants<br />
22 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
The National Rural Electric <strong>Cooperative</strong><br />
Association (NRECA) is offering 10 “minigrants” of<br />
$500 each to fund special projects in rural K12<br />
classrooms in schools or communities served by<br />
KIUC or other electric cooperatives, or whose<br />
students’ homes are served by a coop.<br />
Kindergarten to 12thgrade classroom teachers<br />
are invited to submit projects for funding. Projects<br />
should investigate the science of energy or<br />
electricity. Examples include a study of local<br />
geology, the history of hydroelectric generation in<br />
the community or alternative sources of energy<br />
for the next generation.<br />
Applications will be screened by the National<br />
Rural Education Association. The Teacher<br />
Activities Committee will select 15 finalists.<br />
NRECA will select 10 winners from that list.<br />
Selected projects will be funded at the beginning<br />
of the 20102011 school year.<br />
Applications will be judged on the<br />
following criteria:<br />
◼ A project design that demonstrates<br />
cooperation between students<br />
◼ Appropriateness for age and grade levels<br />
◼ A project design that encourages a high level<br />
of student involvement<br />
◼ A project design that indicates coordination<br />
with your local rural electric cooperative<br />
◼ A project design that focuses on student<br />
learning<br />
◼ Overall quality of the application and<br />
adherence to grant guidelines.<br />
Entries must be postmarked by May 15, 2010.<br />
For an application and additional details, see<br />
www.nrea.net and follow the links to “awards.”<br />
2010 Registration<br />
West Kaua‘i AYSO Region 940<br />
girls and boys ages 5-19,<br />
Līhu‘e-Kekaha<br />
ALL skill levels welcome<br />
COST: $50 - 1st player<br />
(multiplayer discount and financial aid available)<br />
Flat fee of $30 U16-19 division or VIP program<br />
WHERE & WHEN<br />
Kukui Grove Center Kalaheo Neighborhood<br />
Center<br />
Fri. April 9: 5p-8p Fri. April 23: 5p-8p<br />
Sat. April 10: 9a-12p<br />
Waimea Neighborhood Center<br />
Sat. April 24: 9a-12p<br />
PRE-REGISTER online and save<br />
an additional $5 per family<br />
www.aysokaua‘i.net
For an electric cooperative such as KIUC, service means more than delivering electricity to<br />
customers. While its core mission is to keep the lights on and offer programs to help you use<br />
electricity more efficiently, it also is committed to building a stronger community.<br />
When Kaua‘i United Way campaign<br />
coordinators Kymi Sakai and Dawn Cummings<br />
started their 2009 campaign last September, they<br />
knew they were facing some challenges,<br />
considering the tough economic conditions.<br />
While they didn’t think they could come close<br />
to KIUC’s 2008 goals, it didn’t discourage them<br />
from planning their presentations to employees<br />
and the Board of Directors, and thinking of a<br />
fundraiser to boost the campaign.<br />
They adopted a mindset that the campaign was<br />
more than raising money and meeting goals. They<br />
saw it as an opportunity to give back to the<br />
community through the support of the 27<br />
agencies that are allocated money through the<br />
Kaua‘i United Way.<br />
They moved forward with their steadfast goal of<br />
100 percent employee and board participation<br />
and to meet or exceed the prior year’s dollar<br />
amount in pledges.<br />
When the results of the campaign were tallied<br />
in November, they had reached an impressive 87<br />
percent participation level—just a 3 percent drop<br />
from the prior year’s participation. Despite that,<br />
employee pledges totaled $22,412. That was an<br />
increase of 4 percent compared with 2008’s totals.<br />
KIUC has a wellestablished record of broad<br />
community support. Coop employees have<br />
consistently been one of the top five corporate<br />
giftgivers to Kaua‘i United Way’s campaign. For<br />
the second consecutive year, KIUC has garnered<br />
the number 1 spot in campaign giftgiving,<br />
thanks to the generosity of the employees and<br />
Board of Directors.<br />
The coop’s participation extends beyond fund raising. Member<br />
Services Manager Barbara Nagamine has served on the Kaua‘i United<br />
Way board since 1998, and is entering her fifth term as a director.<br />
Singlehandedly, Barbara brought the previously obscure Agency<br />
Relations Committee to prominence. Thanks to Barbara, each board<br />
member now visits at least one participating agency and issues a<br />
formal report. In conjunction with staff visits and agency representation<br />
at United Way hearings, this gives the Allocations Committee more<br />
information from which to draw as funding decisions are made.<br />
For her efforts, Barbara was awarded the prestigious 2009 Founder’s<br />
Award. The honor is presented annually to the Kaua‘i United Way Board<br />
member who best exemplifies the noble intentions and spirit of the<br />
organization’s founders.<br />
Elsie and Mabel Wilcox, A. Hebard Case, Lindsay Faye, Andrew Gross and Bernard D. Pratt founded<br />
Kaua‘i United Way in 1943, determined to “transmit the community not less but greater, better and<br />
more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”<br />
KIUC’s CEO Randy Hee, Chairman Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian and KUW Coordinators Dawn Cummings and Kymi Sakai<br />
presented a check of matching KIUC contributions to Scott Giarmin and Loretta Geiss from Kaua‘i United Way.<br />
KIUC IN THE COMMUNITY<br />
Kaua‘i United Way<br />
Photos by Shelley Paik<br />
APRIL 2010 23
March of Dimes<br />
24 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
Joe Fontanilla, a senior planner for the<br />
transmission/distribution department at KIUC, has<br />
spearheaded the coop’s March of Dimes<br />
fundraising team for more than 10 years. He says<br />
he was inspired to get involved after he and his<br />
wife, Nancy, welcomed a healthy son after 15 years<br />
of trying to conceive. The boy is now in college.<br />
Typically, Fontanilla—a quiet, unassuming<br />
man—recruits 20 KIUC employees and family<br />
members to participate in the walk. He also<br />
gathers donations from those who are not able to<br />
attend. KIUC supports the effort by allowing<br />
Fontanilla to send emails for team recruitment<br />
and small fund raising events for the employees.<br />
In 2009, Fontanilla estimated he could raise<br />
$500 for the March of Dimes. His team raised<br />
nearly $1,500. At the team captain kickoff meeting<br />
this year, Fontanilla indicated he wanted to raise<br />
$5,000 this year. KIUC has pledged to match the<br />
first $1,000.<br />
“This kind of support from an employer helps<br />
further philanthropy among all employees,<br />
especially since this employer is a community<br />
leader as well,” said Cheryl Ann Farrell, local<br />
March of Dimes coordinator. “This is my second<br />
year of coordinating the March for Babies here<br />
on Kaua‘i. It was last year that I first met Joe as I<br />
began contacting former team captains of prior<br />
years. I had been briefed during my initial<br />
orientation that Joe was one of our champion<br />
team captains—that he had participated for<br />
years and always done well and to contact him<br />
right away.”<br />
Farrell said she had seen a Currents story<br />
featuring KIUC’s community activities. It included<br />
a photo of the walk team from 2008.
“I knew that this was a strong group,” she said.<br />
“KIUC itself has been a champion in the<br />
community. I have been involved with several<br />
nonprofit events over the years, and KIUC has<br />
always been a leader in community development<br />
and support.”<br />
Photos by Shelley Paik<br />
The 2010 March for Babies will be Saturday,<br />
April 10, at Lydgate Park in Kapa‘a. Registration is<br />
at 7:30 a.m. at the main pavilion. The 2mile walk<br />
through the park begins at 8 a.m., followed by fun<br />
activities for the family, with music, food, keiki<br />
rides, games and prizes.<br />
The March of Dimes seeks to improve the<br />
health of babies by preventing birth defects,<br />
premature birth and infant mortality. Money<br />
raised through March for Babies—which used to<br />
be called WalkAmerica—supports lifesaving<br />
research, community services, education and<br />
advocacy that help babies get a healthy start.<br />
“I try to help out as much as I can,” says<br />
Fontanilla, who marked 34 years with the utility<br />
company on March 1. “I wish people would be<br />
aware of what can happen to a newborn as a<br />
result of drugs, tobacco and alcohol.”<br />
KIUC March of Dimes walkers pose for a picture before<br />
the start of the walk.<br />
Seeing a baby hooked up to wires and fighting<br />
to live is sad, Fontanilla says, noting how grateful<br />
he and Nancy are that their son, Travis, was born<br />
without any birth defects.<br />
Farrell said she looks forward to Fontanilla’s<br />
team doing “exceptionally well.”<br />
“We thank both Joe and KIUC for being models<br />
of good citizenship, and to KIUC for being an<br />
employer that rewards and supports individual<br />
employee achievement,” Farrell said.<br />
To register for the 2010 walk, visit<br />
www.marchforbabies.org, or contact Cheryl Ann<br />
Farrell at cfarrell@marchofdimes.com or<br />
652.1284.<br />
Jeremy and Stephanie<br />
McKelvy came out<br />
to help support<br />
the March of Dimes.<br />
APRIL 2010 25
Relay for Life<br />
26 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
When Jackie Cachero first<br />
became captain of KIUC’s<br />
American Cancer Society<br />
Relay For Life team, she had<br />
no idea the foundation she<br />
was setting for herself, let<br />
alone her coworkers.<br />
“Three years later, I was<br />
diagnosed with breast<br />
cancer,” says Jackie, who<br />
works in KIUC’s human<br />
resources department. “I<br />
have developed more of a passion to make sure<br />
Relay For Life is successful, and educate employees<br />
about cancer. I really get into it.”<br />
Jackie’s enthusiasm has been infectious. Fellow<br />
human resources coworkers Pia Gregorio and<br />
Sheryl Grady, and member services representatives<br />
Tracie Jacintho and Kymi Sakai, have joined the<br />
organizing team. More than 50 KIUC employees,<br />
and their family members and friends, participate in<br />
the event, which raises funds and awareness to<br />
prevent lives from being lost to cancer.<br />
The Cancer Killawatts, as the KIUC team is known,<br />
is among the top fund raisers in Kaua‘i’s Relay For<br />
Life, consistently earning “gold” status. This year, the<br />
team is staging four major events to raise<br />
contributions: a sale of baked goods, flowers and<br />
candy tied to Valentine’s Day; a luncheon in which<br />
employees are invited to buy food prepared and<br />
donated by coworkers; a car wash for the<br />
community on May 8; and the sale of chicken hekka<br />
prepared by Clifton Sato, KIUC mechanic, during the<br />
Relay For Life.<br />
Started 25 years ago, Relay For Life has grown into<br />
the world’s largest movement to end cancer. Each<br />
year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000<br />
communities in the United States and communities<br />
in 21 other countries gather in teams and<br />
participate in Relay For Life. The only requirement is<br />
payment of a $10 registration/commitment fee per<br />
person. It is recommended each participant set a<br />
personal goal to raise at least $100 in pledges.<br />
Teams camp out and take turns walking or running<br />
around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a<br />
representative on the track at all times during the<br />
event. Because cancer never sleeps, relays are<br />
overnight events, lasting up to 24 hours in length.<br />
This year’s westside Relay For Life is April 2425 at<br />
Hanapepe Stadium. The theme is Caribbean Cruise.<br />
The event kicks off at 6 p.m. with a Survivors Lap—<br />
an inspirational time when survivors are invited to<br />
circle the track together and celebrate the victories<br />
achieved over cancer.<br />
After dark, during the Luminaria Ceremony,<br />
people who have been touched by cancer are<br />
honored and loved ones lost to the disease are<br />
remembered. Candles are lit inside bags filled<br />
with sand, each one bearing the name of a<br />
person touched by cancer. Participants often<br />
walk a lap in silence.<br />
During the Fight Back Ceremony, participants<br />
make a personal commitment to save lives by<br />
taking up the fight against cancer. The Kaua‘i<br />
event ends at 6 a.m.<br />
Jackie and her fellow leadership team invite<br />
people to watch for information about presale car<br />
wash tickets, or to stop by Kukui Grove the morning<br />
of May 8, beginning at 10 a.m. They also can<br />
contribute to the team by going to<br />
www.relayforlife.org/kaua‘ihi, then clicking on the<br />
Cancer Killawatts link.<br />
Pia says she started out taking a shift at the Relay<br />
For Life in honor of her mom, who had cancer. But<br />
once she got to know Jackie, she says she had to get<br />
more involved.<br />
“Pretty much everyone has someone close to<br />
them who has somehow been touched by cancer,”<br />
she says.
KIUC IN THE COMMUNITY<br />
KIUC Seabird Update<br />
Kaua‘i <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Utility</strong> <strong>Cooperative</strong> was<br />
disappointed to learn that Earthjustice's clients<br />
had followed through with their threat to file a<br />
lawsuit against KIUC for alleged “illegal<br />
operations” with regards to seabirds, on March 24<br />
following the 60day notice it issued in January.<br />
Despite KIUC’s efforts working in the utmost<br />
good faith to address issues raised by<br />
Earthjustice, they chose to sue, which benefits<br />
no one, will cost the ratepayers/memberowners<br />
more money in legal fees, and does nothing to<br />
advance bird protection.<br />
“In spite of the decision by Earthjustice’s<br />
clients to file suit, it is the cooperative’s<br />
intention to continue to implement seabird<br />
conservation measures,” said KIUC President<br />
and CEO Randy Hee. “We will continue<br />
collaborating with state and federal wildlife<br />
agencies on a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)<br />
that offers longterm solutions.<br />
”Since its inception eight years ago, KIUC has<br />
worked closely with U.S. Fish and Wildlife<br />
(USFWS) and the Hawai’i Department of Land &<br />
Natural Resources – Division of Forestry and<br />
Wildlife (DOFAW) to address complex issues<br />
concerning the potential impact of utility<br />
By Anne Barnes<br />
Photo by Maile Moriguchi<br />
structures and lights on several protected and<br />
endangered seabird species. As part of that effort,<br />
KIUC has implemented numerous measures to<br />
reduce the potential impact of its facilities on<br />
seabirds (such as shielding thousands of<br />
streetlights, shielding facility lighting, altering<br />
power lines, etc.) and to assist seabird survival<br />
and recovery (such as funding, expanding and<br />
improving the Save Our Shearwaters program, and<br />
funding habitat improvement projects).<br />
A little more than one year ago, the state and<br />
federal wildlife agencies jointly proposed a new<br />
approach for the HCP, to which KIUC promptly<br />
agreed. KIUC prepared the HCP document and<br />
submitted the associated applications to the<br />
agencies early last year. The agencies are nearing<br />
approval of the plan, and based on their timeline,<br />
anticipate issuance of an incidental take permit<br />
and license in the third quarter of this year.<br />
KIUC still believes the way to resolve these<br />
important and challenging issues is through the<br />
state and federal permitting processes, and their<br />
associated public review and comment<br />
opportunities. We continue to urge the state and<br />
federal wildlife agencies to act on our longstanding<br />
applications.<br />
APRIL 2010 27
co-op connecons scoop<br />
MAKE THE CO-OP CONNECTIONS CARD<br />
Part of Your Social Network<br />
The Co-op Connecons Card program is constantly evolving to<br />
provide more value to co-ops and co-op members. Stay current on<br />
the latest specials, naonal discount deals and limited me offers<br />
with tweets from Twier. Several hundred co-op members have<br />
signed on to receive up-to-the-minute news flashes on the program.<br />
Followers receive a maximum of five tweets per week. Co-op<br />
members can also become fans of the Co-op Connecons Card on<br />
Facebook. Visit connecons.coop for links to the program’s pages on<br />
both sites.<br />
28 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
Co-op Connections:<br />
Fast Fact<br />
283<br />
Number of Touchstone <strong>Energy</strong> cooperatives<br />
that offer the card to their members.<br />
$15 Million<br />
Approximate amount saved since<br />
May 2007 on prescription medications<br />
by co-op members nationwide.<br />
The Co-op Connections Card program has<br />
more than 75 national discount deals to<br />
go along with co-ops’ local deals. Here’s<br />
a sampling of some of the great savings<br />
available through Co-op Connections.<br />
Visit Connections.coop to check out all<br />
the national discounts!<br />
COUPONS.COM<br />
New printable coupons every day, accepted at<br />
more than 160 supermarket chains nationwide.<br />
SHARI’S BERRIES<br />
Get 15 percent off hand-dipped berries,<br />
cheesecakes and gourmet baked goods<br />
that make unforgettable gifts.<br />
OMAHA STEAKS<br />
Save 50 percent off the popular Steak<br />
and Cake Combo.<br />
BARNES&NOBLE.COM<br />
Free standard shipping and an additional<br />
5 percent off already reduced prices.<br />
BEST WESTERN<br />
Special low room rates available only to cardholders.<br />
HERTZ<br />
Special offers, free upgrades and more.<br />
LA QUINTA INNS & SUITES<br />
10 percent off best available room rates.<br />
SEARS COMMERCIAL<br />
Get 10-50 percent off appliances, TVs and more.<br />
PETMEDS<br />
10 percent off at America’s largest pet pharmacy.<br />
NIAGARA CONSERVATION<br />
20 percent off energy efficiency home<br />
improvement items.<br />
PRO FLOWERS<br />
15 percent off a wide assortment of flowers.<br />
SPRINT<br />
15 percent off monthly services for new<br />
and existing customers.<br />
www.petmeds.com<br />
®<br />
®
As a cardcarrying member, you can use your Coop Connections Card or key fob at any participating<br />
business and receive discounts at restaurants and retail shops, services, hotels and much more. Spotting<br />
a participating business is easy. Look for the Coop Connections Card sticker on the door or cash register<br />
at the business. KIUC publishes an updated list of participating businesses in each issue of KIUC Currents<br />
magazine, but deals are added all the time. The best spot to find the latest deals is online at<br />
www.kiuc.coop. Simply click the “Coop Connections” link. If you have a business and would like to<br />
participate in the program, please call 246.4348 for more information.<br />
Aloha Services, Kapa‘a<br />
10% discount on all shipping, storage, copies and post<br />
office box rentals.<br />
Backdoor Hanalei, Hanalei<br />
10% off all originalpriced goods, except surfboards<br />
and paddleboards.<br />
Beachrail, Līhu‘e & Hanamā‘ulu<br />
5% off products, except Lionel trains and collectable<br />
items.<br />
Buddha Boutique, Līhu‘e<br />
10% off (discount cannot be combined with other<br />
discounts or instore specials).<br />
Edward Jones, Kalāheo<br />
Free portfolio review.<br />
Hanalei Paddler, Hanalei<br />
10% off all originalpriced goods, except surfboards<br />
and paddleboards.<br />
Hanalei Surf Company, Hanalei<br />
10% off all originalpriced goods, except surfboards<br />
and paddleboards.<br />
JJ’s Broiler, Līhu‘e<br />
“Early Bird Special” – Customer must be seated<br />
between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to receive a 10% discount<br />
on food items. Liquor is excluded. Tax and gratuity not<br />
included. Parties of up to 10 people only.<br />
Jim Saylor Jewelers, Kapa‘a<br />
10% discount.<br />
Kalapaki Bay Memorial Park, Līhu‘e<br />
$150 discount on cemetary plots.<br />
Kaua‘i Floors, Inc., Līhu‘e<br />
10% off all area rugs in stock, not already reduced.<br />
Kaua‘i Inn, Līhu‘e<br />
20% off rack rate.<br />
Kaua‘i SelfStorage, Līhu‘e<br />
10% off regular rental rate plus one free lock with<br />
rental of any size unit.<br />
By Maile Moriguchi<br />
KIUC’S VALUE ADDED SERVICES<br />
Cash In On Savings With Your<br />
Co-op Connections Card<br />
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens, Līhu‘e<br />
5% discount on cemetery property and funeral plans<br />
(preneed). Not good toward atneed services and<br />
merchandise.<br />
Kayak Kaua‘i, Kapa‘a<br />
10% discount on tours and rentals.<br />
Kujo’s Mini Mart, Kalāheo<br />
10% off everything, except alcohol, cigarettes and<br />
gift items.<br />
Lawai Cannery Self Storage & Warehouses, Kalāheo<br />
10% off of any selfstorage unit. Offer not valid with<br />
any other specials.<br />
Market Street Diner, Līhu‘e<br />
10% off all items, excluding early bird or happy hour.<br />
New Leaf Skin Care, Līhu‘e<br />
15% off all skin care services.<br />
North Shore General Store, Princeville<br />
20% off café prices.<br />
Ohana Hearing Care Inc., Līhu‘e<br />
15% off all new digital hearing aids and 10% off T.V.<br />
Ears Regular System.<br />
Precision Tinting Kaua‘i, Līhu‘e<br />
15% off regular price.<br />
Princeville Mail Center (Aloha Services), Princeville<br />
10% discount on all shipping, storage, copies and post<br />
office box rentals.<br />
Progressive Expressions, Kōloa<br />
10% off originalmarked prices, except surfboards.<br />
Sweet N Sassy, ʻEleʻele<br />
10% off all regularpriced merchandise, not to include<br />
sale items or other instore promotions.<br />
Tropics Day Spa, ʻEleʻele<br />
Purchase a onehour massage at regular price ($85)<br />
and get 30 additional minutes for free.<br />
Wings Over Kaua‘i, Kalāheo<br />
10% off, three passenger maximum, two passenger<br />
minimum. Direct booking only.<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.<br />
APRIL 2010 29
MEMBER SERVICES<br />
Outage: What Happens &<br />
What You Can Do<br />
30 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
One of the challenges electric utility customers<br />
face is that from time to time temporary outages<br />
occur and electrical service is interrupted. While<br />
KIUC’s service availability has been better than<br />
99.98 percent for the past two years, it also<br />
means KIUC’s average customers were without<br />
power for almost 0.02 percent of the time.<br />
Why do outages occur? How long do they last<br />
and what should a customer do?<br />
The following percentage of causes is from 2009<br />
KIUC data of sustained interruptions—those<br />
lasting longer than one minute.<br />
About 25 percent were caused by “acts of<br />
nature,” such as high winds, floods and storms. On<br />
Kaua‘i, high winds cause debris such as trees to<br />
make contact with wires, and sometimes topple<br />
them. Other external causes—for example, auto<br />
accidents that contact utility poles or wires,<br />
construction crews that dig into underground<br />
cables, tree trimmers that contact overhead wires<br />
and trees that contact wires due to overgrowth—<br />
accounted for an additional 20 percent of<br />
sustained interruptions.<br />
An additional 25 percent were caused by loss of<br />
power supply—generating unit problems that<br />
result in a reduction of output, causing an under<br />
frequency load shed. Distribution equipment<br />
failures—such as corroded fuse holders and<br />
damaged insulators, cables, poles or<br />
transformers—were responsible for 18 percent of<br />
outages. Failure or malfunction of transmission<br />
equipment—large transformers, insulators,<br />
lightning arrestors and switches—caused about 12<br />
percent of interruptions.<br />
Less than 1 percent are due to outages<br />
prearranged to repair transmission or<br />
distribution circuits.<br />
“There are three primary measures when it<br />
comes to power outages: number of outages,<br />
duration of outages and the product of the two,”<br />
said KIUC Production Manager Brad Rockwell.<br />
“The primary indicator of utility performance is<br />
the product—Average Outage Hours per<br />
Member—since it captures both frequency and<br />
duration of outages.”
For 2008 and 2009, the average KIUC member<br />
was without power 1.5 hours each year. “Some<br />
were out more, and some were out less, but the<br />
average was 1.5 hours—or 0.017 percent—<br />
without power,” Rockwell added. That means that<br />
KIUC’s “up time”—when electrical service is<br />
available to all customers—was 99.983 percent in<br />
both 2008 and 2009.<br />
How does KIUC normally respond, and what<br />
should customers do?<br />
When a tree falls on a power line, the power<br />
will go out. It merely is a question of how long. A<br />
minor outage may result in a brief interruption—<br />
just enough to cause a flashing 12:00 on all of<br />
your clocks. Depending on the extent of the<br />
damage, repairs may take time.<br />
KIUC’s goal is to restore power safely to the<br />
greatest number of customers in the shortest time<br />
possible. But restoring power after a major outage<br />
is a big job that involves much more than simply<br />
replacing a pole, removing a tree from a line or<br />
flipping a switch back at the office. Often, line<br />
crews must work long hours in inclement weather<br />
just to locate the source of the problem.<br />
Before calling KIUC to report an outage, make<br />
sure your house hasn’t tripped a circuit breaker.<br />
Are your neighbor’s lights off, too? If so, turn on<br />
your portable radio to find out whether the<br />
outage already has been reported. If it has, you do<br />
not need to call again. If not, call 246.4300.<br />
When you report the outage, give your name,<br />
address and account number (it is on your bill).<br />
Stay near the phone at least 15 minutes after<br />
calling so a KIUC representative can call back for<br />
more information, if needed. If you call and<br />
receive a busy signal or an answering machine,<br />
most likely the call volume is too high for the<br />
personnel on shift to handle. If that is the case, it<br />
is safe to assume KIUC knows about the outage.<br />
Turn on an outside light so repair crews can see<br />
when power has been restored. Unplug voltagesensitive<br />
electronic equipment such as computers<br />
and televisions. When power is restored, don’t<br />
turn everything back on at once.<br />
Listen to the radio for outage information and<br />
instructions in the event of a storm. Kaua‘i’s Civil<br />
Defense station is KQNG, at 570 AM or 93.5 FM.<br />
KUAI is at 720 AM; FM97 is at 96.9 FM. KIUC<br />
personnel stays in contact with all three stations<br />
and will broadcast special advisories about your<br />
power supply. Oceanic Time Warner also carries<br />
National Weather Service reports.<br />
During an outage, KIUC’s media reports will<br />
advise you of the outage start time; areas<br />
affected; the cause of the outage, if known; and<br />
the sequence of events related to power<br />
restoration. You will be told when the outage has<br />
been restored, and about any additional work that<br />
will be needed.<br />
Power Plant Shift Supervisor Ira Fernandez discusses the causes of an outage that occurred earlier this year<br />
with Production Manager Brad Rockwell and Transmission & Distribution Manager Jack Leavitt.<br />
Photo by Shelley Paik<br />
APRIL 2010 31
KIUC Completes & Energizes<br />
Photovoltaic Project at Port Allen<br />
32 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
“Through projects like this one, KIUC continues to investigate and<br />
evaluate various alternative power sources that allow us to utilize<br />
existing assets and help us continue to deliver reliable, affordable and<br />
clean electricity to our members.”<br />
Randy Hee KIUC President and CEO<br />
KIUC & PETRA Solar Join Forces<br />
A Petra Solar employee<br />
develops new solar<br />
conversion<br />
technologies.<br />
KIUC and New Jerseybased<br />
clean energy company Petra<br />
Solar have teamed up to<br />
launch the first utility pole <br />
mounted photovoltaic (PV)<br />
system in Hawai‘i. This<br />
landmark solar demonstration<br />
project features Petra Solar’s<br />
SunWave systems mounted<br />
on Ahukini Road in Līhu‘e.<br />
Petra Solar, founded in 2006<br />
by Dr. Shihab Kuran, is the<br />
pioneer of the SunWave UP<br />
Series—a gridtied, polemounted, distributed solar<br />
generation system. Less than three years since the<br />
founding, Petra Solar shifted rapidly from “startup<br />
to rampup” status after signing its first commercial<br />
contract for $200 million with New Jersey’s largest<br />
utility, PSE&G, last July.<br />
In February’s Currents you saw the beginning of<br />
our 68kilowatt photovoltaic project for KIUC’s<br />
Photo by Cameron Kruse<br />
The SunWave systems not only turn street light<br />
and utility poles into solar generators, but provide<br />
smart grid communications and electric grid<br />
enhancement functions, offering unique and<br />
compelling solutions for utilities. A traditional,<br />
string, inverter is designed to convert power from<br />
several solar panels connected to one another. In<br />
contrast, Petra Solar’s Smart <strong>Energy</strong> Module, which<br />
includes an inverter, is designed to work with a<br />
single solar panel. This onetoone relationship<br />
between the inverter and the solar panel provides<br />
several benefits, such as avoiding the shutdown of<br />
all modules connected to a single inverter when a<br />
single module ceases to generate, increased system<br />
efficiency and simplicity of installation.<br />
warehouse roof at the Port Allen facility. The<br />
project was completed and energized on February<br />
12. Beachside Solar Technologies (Beachside<br />
Roofing) recently completed the installation of the<br />
Building Integrated Photovoltaic system (BIPV).<br />
78 individual solarintegrated BIPV modules were<br />
mounted on the warehouse roof. The project also<br />
included installation of 18 Solatube 21inch<br />
tubular daylights, increasing natural lighting<br />
during the day. Transmission and distribution<br />
crews upgraded the singlephase line so the<br />
warehouse can export power onto the grid<br />
whenever there is surplus power. Employee<br />
Cameron Kruse shot this photo immediately<br />
following completion of the project.
Kaua‘i District<br />
Tennis Association<br />
2010 Charity Tournament Schedule<br />
May 1 & 2 Kaua‘i United Way April 23 (entry deadline)<br />
*June 26 & 27 Kaua‘i United Way June 18 (entry deadline)<br />
*August 7 & 8 Kaua‘i United Way July 30 (entry deadline)<br />
*October 9 & 10 Kaua‘i United Way October 1 (entry deadline)<br />
*December 11 & 12 Toys for Tots December 3 (entry deadline)<br />
The next charity tournament:<br />
Men’s & Womens Doubles Spring Challenge<br />
Poipu Kai Resort, the Kaua‘i District Tennis Association (KDTA)<br />
and Grand Hyatt Resort Kaua‘i will be hosting the next charity<br />
tournament. The tournament will be held on May 1 & 2,2010.<br />
All proceeds will benefit the Kaua‘i United Way.<br />
This event will be a Men’s and Women’s Doubles Tournament.<br />
Entry fees are $20.00 per person.<br />
Entries for this tournament can be made by printing the entry and<br />
waiver forms off the KDTA website: www.kctennis2009.webs.com<br />
and mailing it along with payment to the address below or by emailing<br />
players name, phone number and email, partners name, phone<br />
number and email and division of play to<br />
kctennis2009@hawai‘iantel.net:<br />
*An emailed entry should be followed up with a payment<br />
and signed waiver form by the entry deadline.<br />
DIVISIONS:<br />
A Division (4.0 – 4.5)<br />
B Division (3.5 – 4.0)<br />
C Division (3.0 – 3.5)<br />
Mail to:<br />
K C Tennis<br />
P. O. Box 962<br />
Kalaheo, HI 96741<br />
Please make checks out to Poipu Kai Association<br />
*dates tentative<br />
KIUC’s<br />
Recent<br />
Outages<br />
KIUC continues<br />
to investigate the causes<br />
of recent outages.<br />
Some of the outages were a result of an<br />
intermittent problem on one of KIUC’s<br />
most efficient generating units at the Port<br />
Allen Power Plant that began on Sunday,<br />
March 21, 2010. After the outages on<br />
Sunday, the unit was shut down.<br />
“While our most effective troubleshooting<br />
of such problems occurs with the unit<br />
online, we recognize that keeping it online<br />
may cause outages, and so we temporarily<br />
remove it from service,” said KIUC<br />
Production Manager Brad Rockwell. “In<br />
doing so, we dispatch less efficient<br />
generators and continue troubleshooting as<br />
best we can. At some point, we have to put<br />
it back online to test it. Following the<br />
problems on Sunday afternoon, we left the<br />
unit off on Sunday night and most of<br />
Monday. We addressed the symptoms we<br />
found and put the unit back online Monday<br />
afternoon. It ran fine until Tuesday<br />
afternoon, when the problem reoccurred.”<br />
The unit has been offline since for<br />
additional troubleshooting.<br />
KIUC recognizes the inconveniences this<br />
may have caused our members and would<br />
like to reassure them that the coop is doing<br />
everything within its control to prevent<br />
similar instances from happening again.<br />
APRIL 2010 33
Pack Up <strong>Energy</strong> Savings<br />
When taking a vacation, do you think about giving your meter a break, too?<br />
34 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
By Pam Blair<br />
It is easy to forget about conserving electricity<br />
when you and your family pack your bags and<br />
head to the airport for a vacation or lengthy trip.<br />
But if you don’t think about it before you leave,<br />
you could face an unpleasant—even irritating—<br />
surprise when you return.<br />
While it seems to make no sense, your energy<br />
bill can be the same or even higher when your<br />
home is unoccupied. Some equipment, motors<br />
and electrical devices use power, whether or not<br />
anyone is home.<br />
Let your meter know you are gone by preparing<br />
your home before you leave. Then you can enjoy<br />
your vacation knowing you are not wasting<br />
energy—or your money.<br />
Preparing the Home<br />
for Your Absence<br />
Refrigerators and freezers draw electricity to<br />
keep your food cold and frozen in your absence. If<br />
you will be gone for a prolonged time, empty them<br />
out, shut them off at the breaker and prop open<br />
the doors to prevent mildew from growing inside.<br />
Anything that uses clocks, memory, remote<br />
control, microprocessors and instanton<br />
features—such as televisions and VCRs—consume<br />
small amounts of electricity even when turned<br />
“off.” Unplug those items before you leave.<br />
Rather than leave lights on all day, use a timer.<br />
Detecting Other Reasons<br />
for High Bills<br />
Staying home and trying to figure out what is<br />
behind an increase in your electric bill? Consider<br />
these possible causes:<br />
◼ A defective water heater thermostat can<br />
prevent the heating element from cutting off,<br />
causing continuous operation. In twoelement<br />
heaters, failure of one element can cause the<br />
other to operate more.<br />
◼ Consider your living habits. Do you love<br />
gadgets? Most are powered by electricity.<br />
Perhaps you have a growing family, and you<br />
recently purchased a computer and a<br />
dishwasher. Do you love to cook? Do you and<br />
your family spend hours surfing the Internet?<br />
Did you have guests who stayed for weeks on<br />
end, and who left on the lights and did<br />
laundry? All of these activities add to your<br />
electricity usage.<br />
What’s Up With My<br />
Electric Meter?<br />
Often consumers faced with higherthanusual<br />
bills wonder if their meter is wrong, if it was read<br />
improperly, or if it has a short and is running fast.<br />
While those things can happen, they are rare.<br />
Your electric meter is a finely calibrated device<br />
that is almost always within the plus or minus 2<br />
percent tolerance range. Meters are regularly<br />
tested to ensure accuracy.<br />
High bills rarely are due to a faulty, fastrunning<br />
meter. In fact, a meter tends to gradually<br />
slow with age, benefiting the consumer.<br />
The most common cause of high bills is an<br />
increase in electrical usage.<br />
When you are home, you use electricity for<br />
lighting, cooking, cleaning, operating electronics<br />
and powering your computer. But the electricity<br />
is on even when you are gone, powering your<br />
water heater, refrigerator, pumps and all of those<br />
electronics that have a builtin clock and<br />
automatic “on” function. They are “phantom”<br />
power users, drawing a small amount of<br />
electricity whenever they are plugged in,<br />
regardless of whether they are turned on.
◼ Has anything changed in your household?<br />
Spring or fall cleaning, holiday activities,<br />
sickness or convalescence at home, and<br />
changes in the size of the family—for<br />
example, a new baby or a college student<br />
returning home—often result in increased<br />
electrical usage.<br />
◼ If you have moved into a new home, consider<br />
whether your new dwelling is larger than your<br />
former home, is in a location with more<br />
extreme temperatures or wind, has a larger<br />
water heater, is less well insulated or has<br />
fewer draperies.<br />
◼ Billing periods can vary from month to month.<br />
Note whether the month contained five<br />
weekends or a holiday—time when usage<br />
tends to be greater.<br />
◼ Other causes of bill variations are defective<br />
appliances, frost on a refrigerator unit, home<br />
repairs, lack of good appliance maintenance,<br />
defective house wiring, exposure of pipes and<br />
the water heater to cold air, and leaking hot<br />
water faucets.<br />
Do the Math<br />
To better understand how you use electricity,<br />
read your meter at about the same time each<br />
day for one week. Note activities done one day,<br />
but not the next, and special circumstances,<br />
such as overnight guests. That will help you<br />
identify reasons for varying usage. Subtract the<br />
previous day’s reading from the current<br />
reading to see how many kilowatthours of<br />
electricity you use during a 24hour period.<br />
The popular comic strip heroine Little Orphan Annie<br />
takes center stage in one of the world’s best-loved<br />
musicals at Kalaheo School’s cafeteria-turned-theater<br />
April 23, 24 and 30 and May 1.<br />
Based on the Tribune Media Service comic strip Little<br />
Orphan Annie, “Annie Jr.” brings to life the spunky<br />
Depression-era orphan determined to find her<br />
parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss<br />
Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, befriends President<br />
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and finds a new family and home in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace<br />
Farrell and a lovable mutt named Sandy.<br />
“Annie Jr.” features the classic songs “Tomorrow,” “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here” and “I Don’t Need Anything But You.”<br />
In the Kalaheo production, Helena Huffman stars as Annie, with Jeffrey Peterson as Oliver Warbucks, Abigayl Cox as Grace<br />
Farrell and Tylyn Nakamura as the infamous Miss<br />
Hannigan. Jacob Herr and Carolyn Price play the<br />
villainous Rooster and Lilly. Thirty plus others play<br />
the various orphans and ensemble roles.<br />
Directed by Marly Madayag, performances of<br />
“Annie Jr.” begin at 7 p.m. each evening. Tickets<br />
are available at the school or at the door prior to<br />
the show. The cost is $5 for adults. Children 12<br />
and under are admitted free.<br />
Come early and enjoy the food booth, where you<br />
can enter a drawing to win the grand prize of a<br />
sterling silver key heart locket chain ($375 value)<br />
donated by Tiffany & Co.<br />
For more information, or to order tickets, please<br />
email us at: kesdrama@gmail.com.<br />
APRIL 2010 35
1<br />
36 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
Photos By Maile Moriguchi<br />
1 Crab Wonton<br />
8 ounces softened cream cheese<br />
1 package imitation crab<br />
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce<br />
½ teaspoon garlic powder<br />
1 package won ton pi<br />
1 egg, beaten<br />
Oil for frying<br />
Sweet chili sauce for dipping<br />
2<br />
Ono Pupu<br />
Mix cream cheese, imitation crab,<br />
Worcestershire sauce and garlic power. Heat oil<br />
to 350 degrees. Drop a spoonful of crab mixture<br />
in the center of each won ton pi. Rub a light layer<br />
of egg around the edges and fold edges<br />
diagonally to seal the won ton. Fry about 2 to 3<br />
minutes, until golden brown.<br />
3 Boiled Peanuts<br />
2 pounds peanuts, raw inshell<br />
3 tablespoons Hawai‘ian salt<br />
1 star anise<br />
Wash peanuts until water is clear. Add water<br />
to cover peanuts and soak overnight. Put weight<br />
on them so peanuts are soaking under the<br />
water. Drain and rinse several times, until the<br />
water is clean. Add star anise; cover and boil for<br />
30 to 45 minutes, testing to see that peanuts are<br />
cooked, but not soft. Do not overcook. Turn off<br />
heat. Add salt and mix. Cover and let stand<br />
30 to 45 minutes.<br />
2 Stuffed Mushrooms<br />
12 mediumsized cremini or white mushrooms<br />
½ cup mayonnaise<br />
¼ to ⅓ cup shredded crab meat<br />
1 small shallot, minced<br />
⅛ teaspoon paprika<br />
¼ cup Parmesan cheese<br />
⅛ teaspoon dill<br />
⅛ teaspoon celery salt<br />
Topping: Mix four parts bread crumbs to 1 part<br />
Parmesan cheese in a bowl.<br />
Remove the stems and gills from the<br />
mushrooms. Mix all ingredients (except topping<br />
ingredients) in a bowl. Stuff mushrooms, then turn<br />
upside down and dip in topping. Place mushrooms<br />
in a foillined pan and bake in 325degree oven for<br />
15 to 20 minutes. As an alternative to an oven,<br />
place the foillined pan with mushrooms in a<br />
barbecue grill and cook until nicely browned.<br />
3
4<br />
4 Smoked Fish and Dill<br />
Dill<br />
Cream cheese<br />
Baguette bread<br />
Pepper<br />
Olive oil<br />
Smoked fish<br />
Mix dill in cream cheese. Set aside. Slice one<br />
baguette very thin. Mix plenty of pepper with olive<br />
oil. Brush one side of bread. Toast in toaster oven<br />
until brown. If you don’t have a toaster oven, place<br />
oiled bread on a cookie sheet and place under the<br />
broiler until brown. Turn and cover the other side<br />
with the pepper/olive oil mix and broil. Slice<br />
smoked fish and serve with the cream cheese/dill<br />
mixture and pepper bread. Let your guests build<br />
their own, or stack and serve.<br />
6 Smoked Meat<br />
20 pounds pork butt<br />
1 box brown sugar<br />
1 hand ginger<br />
2 cloves garlic<br />
1 package char sui<br />
3 quarts soy sauce<br />
3 Hawai‘ian chili peppers<br />
Cut pork butt into 2inch thick 1foot long strips.<br />
Marinate strips and all ingredients except char sui<br />
mix for three days, mixing twice a day. Add char sui<br />
24 hours before smoking. Smoke pork in a smoker<br />
for four hours, or until done. Cut strips into bitesized<br />
pieces and fry until cooked through.<br />
5 Pupu-Style Spareribs<br />
5 pounds spareribs<br />
4 cloves garlic, crushed<br />
1 large piece ginger root, crushed<br />
½ teaspoon salt<br />
1 cup sugar<br />
1 cup soy sauce<br />
1 cup catsup<br />
⅓ cup oyster sauce<br />
Cut spareribs into 1½inch pieces. In a large<br />
sauce pot, combine spareribs, garlic, ginger and<br />
salt. Add water to cover spareribs. Bring to a boil;<br />
lower heat and simmer 1½ to 2 hours, or until<br />
spareribs are tender. Drain. Combine remaining<br />
ingredients and marinate spareribs in sauce<br />
overnight in the refrigerator. Place spareribs on the<br />
rack of a broiler pan and broil 3 inches from unit in<br />
electric oven for 7 to 10 minutes, basting with<br />
remaining sauce. Turn and broil for 5 to 7 more<br />
minutes. Makes 15 to 20 servings.<br />
6<br />
5<br />
APRIL 2010 37
By Karissa Jonas, Controller<br />
Statement<br />
of Operations<br />
For the period 01/01/2010 – 02/28/2010<br />
38 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
KIUC results of operations through February<br />
28, 2010, are still being impacted negatively by<br />
the weak economy. Electricity usage on the<br />
island is still at a significantly decreased level,<br />
primarily due to the reduction in visitors to the<br />
island. KIUC is doing everything it can, while<br />
maintaining safety and reliability, to reduce<br />
costs in various areas in order to continue to<br />
meet its loan covenants.<br />
Revenues, expenses and net margins totaled<br />
$24.6 million, $22.7 million and $1.9 million,<br />
respectively, for the twomonth period ending<br />
February 28, 2010.<br />
As is the case for all electric utilities, the cost of<br />
power generation is the largest expense, totaling<br />
$13.5 million or 55.0 percent of revenues. Fuel<br />
costs are the largest component of power<br />
generation, totaling $11.1 million or 45.1 percent<br />
of revenues, and representing 82.0 percent of the<br />
cost of power generation. The remaining $2.4<br />
million or 9.9 percent of revenues and 18.0<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 />
11.0%<br />
Administrative &<br />
General<br />
Net of Non-Operating<br />
Margins<br />
5.3%<br />
Marketing &<br />
Communications<br />
0.5%<br />
Interest<br />
6.0%<br />
Member Services<br />
2.4%<br />
Net Margins<br />
7.8%<br />
Fuel & Purchased<br />
Power Costs<br />
45.1%<br />
Production Operation &<br />
Maintenance<br />
9.9%<br />
Transmission & Distribution<br />
Operation & Maintenance<br />
3.6%<br />
The cost of operating and maintaining the<br />
electric lines totaled $0.9 million or 3.6 percent of<br />
total revenues. The cost of servicing our members<br />
totaled $0.6 million or 2.4 percent of revenues.<br />
The cost of keeping our members informed<br />
totaled $0.1 million or 0.5 percent of revenues.<br />
Administrative and general costs—which include<br />
legislative and regulatory expenses, engineering,<br />
executive, human resources, safety and facilities,<br />
information services, financial and corporate<br />
services, and board of director expenses—totaled<br />
$1.4 million or 5.6 percent of revenues.<br />
Being very capital intensive, depreciation and<br />
amortization of the utility plant costs $2.7 million<br />
or 11.0 percent of revenues. Although not subject<br />
to federal income taxes, state and local taxes<br />
amounted to $2.1 million or 8.4 percent of<br />
revenues. Interest on longterm debt, at a very<br />
favorable sub5 percent interest rate, totals $1.5<br />
million or 6.0 percent of revenues. Nonoperating<br />
net margins added $0.1 million to overall net<br />
margins. Revenues less total expenses equal<br />
margins of $1.9 million or 7.8 percent of<br />
revenues. Margins are allocated to consumer<br />
members and paid when appropriate.
Simple<br />
Pleasures<br />
Production Manager<br />
Brad Rockwell takes<br />
the Kaumakani seniors<br />
on a tour of the<br />
Port Allen Power Plant.<br />
Parting<br />
Shot<br />
Leadership Kaua‘i’s 2010 Pi‘ina Hoku Youth Leadership group’s Community Project, Kaua’i <strong>Energy</strong><br />
Education Project (KEEP), is now online at www.keeproject.org. The website offers information on<br />
energy efficiency and features an energy consumption calculator. Please visit the website and read<br />
about more about Pi‘ina Hoku’s KEEP project in the next issue of KIUC Currents.<br />
We’re always looking for interesting items to feature in 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<br />
967662000.<br />
APRIL 2010 39
40 KIUC CURRENTS<br />
HI-130<br />
Powerlines<br />
Aloha mai kākou,<br />
I would like to thank KIUC’s members for exercising the<br />
cooperative principle of “democratic member control” by your<br />
votes in our 8th annual election for directors. I would like to<br />
congratulate incumbent directors Allan Smith and Carol Bain and<br />
new director Jan TenBruggencate for being selected by our<br />
members to serve on the Board of Directors for our cooperative. I<br />
also thank Carol Medeiros and Pat Gegen for stepping forward to<br />
offer themselves as choices before our membership. I look forward to working with Allan, Carol,<br />
Jan and our seated directors as they provide governance for our cooperative.<br />
A cooperative principle that our employees take to heart is “concern for community,” and this<br />
issue of Currents includes some highlights on the Kaua‘i United Way, March of Dimes and the Relay<br />
for Life. Virtually all employees and directors become involved with community support and<br />
community giving, but I would like to thank Dawn Cummings and Kymi Sakai for cochairing the past<br />
year’s United Way Campaign. Thanks to Joe Fontanilla, who has led our March of Dimes effort for<br />
many years, and thanks to Jackie Cachero for leading KIUC’s Relay for Life team. We have many<br />
other employees who serve our community by volunteering as coaches, helping on educational<br />
projects or serving on boards and commissions. We are indeed proud of our employees who not<br />
only work very hard at KIUC to keep the lights on, but work to support their community.<br />
KIUC remains committed to obtaining a high level of renewable energy to supply our members.<br />
It will take a lot of effort to achieve that goal, and this issue provides some insight into where we<br />
are heading with some of the projects. We often mention that the most benefit can be achieved<br />
through more efficient use of energy, and we include some things our members might consider<br />
using as alternatives.<br />
Thanks again to all of the candidates and members who participated in this year’s election<br />
process; you have helped in one of the core principles of a cooperative. Congratulations again to<br />
Allan Smith, Carol Bain and Jan TenBruggencate for having been selected to serve as directors by<br />
KIUC’s membership.<br />
Mahalo!<br />
Randall J. Hee<br />
President and CEO