KIUC Smart Grid Clarification

Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i – November 18, 2011 – Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) has been receiving phone calls from members about a recent bulk mailing regarding Smart Meters. KIUC would like to clarify that the mailing is not from or authorized by the cooperative.

KIUC and 26 other electric cooperatives from 10 states have partnered with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) on the smart grid project to make the electric grid more efficient and reliable. “While we are very excited about the smart grid project improving efficiency and reliability we are also vigorously committed to the safety and privacy of our members. We have policies in place to insure that data is kept confidential,” said KIUC Chief of Operations Mike Yamane. “The data that we will be collecting once the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is installed will be no different than what we collect today.”

KIUC has selected meters that will only transmit for about six to eight times a day for less than a second at a power level thousands of times weaker than a cell phone. These meters will give our resident members multiple benefits, one of which is a faster response when you lose power.

KIUC's Smart Grid installations will commence in the 2^nd  quarter of 2012 and continue throughout the year. KIUC has been committed to keeping our members informed throughout this process. A Smart Grid informational meeting which was blogged live was held in October. An additional meeting will be held on December 8 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the main office in Lihue. This meeting will also be blogged live and we encourage our members to attend. Members can get additional information about renewable projects and the Smart Grid at the KIUC Renewable Solutions website at www.kiucrenewablesolutions.coop.