News and Events
KIUC receives national honor for growth of solar
April 16, 2013
Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) was named today by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) as one of the nation’s Top 10 utilities for delivery of solar energy to its customers. see more
Allan A. Smith Named KIUC Chairman
March 28, 2013
KIUC Board Approves $1,000 Rebate for Solar Water Heaters
March 28, 2013
KIUC's board of directors raised the solar water heater rebate to $1,000...Read More
Official Results of the 2013 KIUC Board of Directors Election
March 23, 2013
Official Results of 2013 KIUC Board of Directors Election (03/23/13) | Official Certification of Election
Power Outage on March 13 for Haena and Wainiha
March 7, 2013
Notice of the Special Meeting of the Board of Directors
December 11, 2012
Notice: Special Meeting of the Board of Directors
Tuesday, December 11, 2012, 1 p.m.
County of Kauai Civil Defense Conference Room
Kauaʻi Utility to Build $40 Million Solar Project, Among Largest in State
October 18, 2012
Kauai Biomass Plant Receives Financing, Construction Set for 2013
October 11, 2012
Save Our Shearwaters Season Begins Sepetmber 15
September 15, 2012
For more information go to www.kauaihumane.org
Annual Meeting of the Membership
July 26, 2012
Dear Members,
On behalf of the board of directors of the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative I'd like to invite you to attend our annual membership meeting on Thursday, July 26.
We're in a new location this year, the Kauaʻi Community College Performing Arts Center. The meeting will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Board members will report on your co-op's activities over the past year and on our progress toward meeting our goal to generate 50 percent of Kauaʻi's energy through renewable resources. You are invited to ask questions of the board and staff.
No reservations are required. We will provide bentos and a bag of rice to the first 300 people who attend the meeting. We look forward to seeing you on the 26th.
Mahalo,
Phil Tacbian
Chairman, KIUC Board of Directors
Board of Directors Meeting
July 24, 2012
Kaua`i Island Utility Cooperative
Board of Directors Meeting
10:00 a.m., July 24, 2012
KIUC Main Conference Room
4463 Pahe`e Street
Līhu`e, Kaua`i, Hawai`i 96766
Special Meeting of the Board of Directors
June 29, 2012
NOTICE
OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE
KAUA`I ISLAND UTILITY COOPERATIVE
TO BE HELD AT THE KIUC MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM
4463 PAHE’E STREET
LIHU`E, KAUA`I, HAWAI`I
AT 10:00 am on FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2012
Board of Directors Meeting, 10 a.m.
June 26, 2012
Kaua`i Island Utility Cooperative
Board of Directors Meeting
10:00 a.m., June 26, 2012
KIUC Main Conference Room
4463 Pahe`e Street
Līhu`e, Kaua`i, Hawai`i 96766
KIUC Board Approves Resolution for Smart Meter Deferral
June 26, 2012
KIUC Board Approves Resolution for Smart Meter Deferral (6/26/12)
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i, HI - 6/26/12 – The board of directors of the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) today approved a resolution setting the policy by which customers of the utility can choose not to have a smart meter installed.
The unanimous action by the board puts in writing the policy followed by KIUC since the meter installation began in April: if you don't want a smart meter, you don't have to have one.
The resolution affirms that KIUC will not try to install a smart meter on any property where the account-holder has deferred and will not seek authorization from the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission to install a smart meter on that property.
The board resolution also states that as the smart meter installation project nears completion, KIUC may convert its deferral policy to an opt-out program that will charge a fee to cover the cost of servicing customers without a smart meter. Any fee would be subject to review and approval by the Public Utilities Commission.
Deferral forms are available online at www.kiuc.coop and at the KIUC offices at 4463 Pahe‘e St., Līhu‘e during regular business hours.
RESOLUTION 07-12 OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
KAUA`I ISLAND UTILITY COOPERATIVE (“KIUC”)
STATEMENT REGARDING MEMBERS’/CUSTOMERS'' RIGHTS TO ELECT TO DEFER INSTALLATION OF A SMART METER (aka an "ADVANCED METER")
WHEREAS, KIUC has embarked on a five-year smart grid demonstration project in cooperation with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Cooperative Research Network and the U.S. Department of Energy; and
WHEREAS, the project includes the use of so-called “smart meters” that periodically relay customers’ energy usage directly to KIUC, eliminating the need for manual reading and more than 100,000 miles in annual travel around the island; and
WHEREAS, the new smart meters provide significant potential benefits to KIUC and its members/customers by offering expanded data on energy usage and immediate outage notification; and
WHEREAS, KIUC’s Board of Directors is confident in the safety and security of the technology used by the smart meters KIUC is installing, but recognizes that some members/customers have expressed concerns about perceived health and security issues related to smart meters; and
WHEREAS, KIUC’s Board of Directors also recognizes that some members/customers have expressed uncertainty or have taken certain positions as to the rights of a member/customer who does not want to have a smart meter installed on their property; and
WHEREAS, KIUC’s Board of Directors desires, through this resolution, to clarify the process by which KIUC will allow a member/customer to not have a smart meter installed on their property.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it hereby resolved by KIUC’s Board of Directors that KIUC has allowed, and will continue to allow, any member/customer to not have a smart meter installed on their property by the filing with KIUC of a written deferral request, or the equivalent express written indication, that the member/customer desires no smart meter to be installed on premises where that member/customer is the account holder or the designated representative of the entity which is the account holder. Upon receipt of such deferral request or indication by KIUC, KIUC will not thereafter voluntarily install without court order or an order or determination of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”), or seek permission from the PUC to install, a smart meter on said premises of that member/customer; and
IT IS FURTHER, resolved that on or before the time when the installation of the smart grid installation project is close to completion and tested, KIUC may choose to establish or convert the existing deferral policy to an opt-out policy or program that will enable a member/customer to decline installation of a smart meter. At that time, KIUC may also choose to request that the PUC approve the recovery of KIUC’s costs and impacts caused by those members/customers that decided not to receive a smart meter, including but not limited to the additional cost of installing, maintaining, replacing and reading the meter that is being used in lieu of the smart meter.
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2012 Youth Tour Begins
June 13, 2012
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i, HI – Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative 2012 youth tour winners Bryson Cayaban of Waimea High, Joshua Herr of Kauai High, Kierstyn Oshita of Kapaa High and Taylor Trujillo of Kamehameha Schools left yesterday for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour. KIUC Member Services Manager Barbara Nagamine met the students at the airport to see them off.
The Rural Electric Youth Tour brings more than 1,400 high school students to Washington, D.C., every year since the late 1950s. To date, more than 40,000 students from rural areas and small towns all over America have participated in this unique program.
Students on the tour learn about electric cooperatives, American history and U.S. government. They attend educational seminars, visit with their representatives in the House and the Senate, and see the sights around Washington, D.C.
The students were chosen by their high schools and were interviewed by a panel comprised of a KIUC board member, a KIUC employee and a member of the co-op.
For more information on the Youth Tour, please visit www.youthtour.coop.
Settlement Reached in Smart Meter Installation Complaint
June 4, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i, HI – 06/04/12 – Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative and Adam Asquith have reached a settlement in Mr. Asquith’s effort in federal court to block the installation of a smart meter on his home.
The settlement provides to Mr. Asquith the same assurance KIUC gives to those who fill out a deferral form: You don’t have to have an advanced meter if you don’t want one.
Specifically, the settlement states that KIUC will not install a smart meter on Mr. Asquith’s property without his permission and will not seek authorization from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to install a smart meter there.
The terms of the settlement apply only to Mr. Asquith. The decision whether to defer can only be made by the customer whose name is on the KIUC account.
Board of Directors Meeting, 10:00 a.m.
May 22, 2012
Kaua`i Island Utility Cooperative
Board of Directors Meeting
10:00 a.m., May 22, 2012
KIUC Main Conference Room
4463 Pahe`e Street
Līhu`e, Kaua`i, Hawai`i 96766
Open Letter from the Board of Directors
May 6, 2012
Aloha,
Serving on the board of the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, we tend to hear a lot from people who are convinced they could do a better job.
That’s the nature of a cooperative. Members elect nine directors to represent their interests, and on Kaua‘i, our members aren’t shy about sharing their opinions.
More than anything else, we hear from people who are frustrated by the size of their electric bills. So are we. That’s why we’re moving so aggressively to strengthen our grid and burn less oil. Some say we’re not moving fast enough, while others urge us to slow down.
Being criticized and second-guessed comes with the job.
But we’ve watched with increasing frustration as our actions and policies have been misrepresented and inaccurately reported. Even something as simple as our name – a recent story in The Garden Island referred to us as “Kaua‘i Community Island Cooperative” – gets tangled. Opinions disguised as facts are amplified, repeated and distorted in letters, on blogs, on the radio and in public meetings.
It’s no wonder people are confused about what we’re up to.
As a board, we want to set the record straight on a number of issues:
- We’ve done the research and we’re satisfied that smart meters are safe and don’t represent a threat to health or privacy. Each of us is comfortable putting them on our houses and the houses of our children and grandchildren and loved ones. But we are responding to the concerns of members who are unsure about smart meters by allowing them to put off installation – we aren’t going to force anyone to have a smart meter who doesn’t want one.
- We know high utility bills are a burden on Kaua‘i businesses and families. That’s why we’re moving steadily toward our goal of providing 50 percent of our electricity through renewable resources by 2023.
- We’re making significant progress on a blueprint for hydroelectric generation using Kaua‘i’s abundant water resources while safeguarding cultural traditions and the environment, leaving ample capacity for agriculture. We have been working with state agencies and plan to continue to develop our projects under a state permitting process. We’ll be sharing these plans in detail later this year after their review by our state agencies, and there will be numerous opportunities for us to talk with you about them.
- We’re committed to transparency; no one is hiding anything. We just posted our 2011 financials on our website, and you can also see past financials, our monthly reports to the state Public Utilities Commission and our annual IRS Form 990s.
- We’re responsible stewards of your money. Since 2002, KIUC has returned more than $26 million in patronage capital and other refunds to our members. That money isn’t shipped off to shareholders, it stays right here on Kaua‘i.
We’re also proud of our work developing two large, KIUC-owned photovoltaic projects. These projects will produce around 20 megawatts of electricity at a cost much lower than burning oil. On a sunny day, when the systems are fully producing, they will provide enough energy to supply almost 40 percent of our island’s demand. Because of the lengthy environmental assessment processes, these projects will likely not start construction until 2013.
We also have several power purchase agreements that have been approved by the state Public Utilities Commission. Among them is the 6-megawatt photovoltaic project Alexander & Baldwin is building next to our Port Allen power plant. And Green Energy is making considerable progress on obtaining financing for a 6.7-megawatt biomass plant in Koloa near Knudsen Gap.
Together, these projects represent huge potential savings on your electric bill.
As we celebrate our 10th year as a cooperative in 2012, we’re committed to providing reliable energy at the lowest possible cost. We’re committed to developing renewable energy that makes economic sense and meets the community’s expectations. And we’re committed to being good neighbors who listen and who act not in self-interest, but for the good of Kaua‘i.
We represent you, so please read Currents, check out our website and sign up for our emails. Talk to us. But don’t just take our word for how we’re doing. Get as many facts as you can about renewable energy, our nation’s aging power grid and how our performance compares to other utility coops. There’s a lot of information out there.
Just don’t expect to get the whole story from bumper stickers, YouTube videos and letters to the editor.
Respectfully,
Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian, chair
Carol Bain
Karen Baldwin
Pat Gegen
David Iha
Calvin Murashige
Allan Smith
Jan TenBruggencate
Peter Yukimura
Board of Directors, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative
Smart Grid Informational Meeting
April 12, 2012
Get Smart About the Smart Grid. Join us for an informational meeting on Kauai's Smart Grid Initiative and get the facts on this new technology.
From 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the KIUC Main Conference Room.
KIUC Smart Meter Installation Process
April 12, 2012
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i, HI – As part of the Kaua‘i Smart Grid Initiative, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) representatives will be visiting homes and businesses to replace electric meters with new smart meters starting in May. This work is expected to continue for approximately 18 months. Members will receive a notification letter by mail at least a couple of weeks prior to installation at their home or business.
These digital meters will assist KIUC in upgrading Kaua‘i’s electric infrastructure and will provide Kaua‘i residents and businesses with potential cost savings and even greater levels of service reliability and efficiency. With these new meters, KIUC members will be able to realize many benefits, including:
· Possible energy savings through increased member knowledge of their energy use.
· Reduced dependency on foreign oil.
· Improved outage response time.
· Increased efficiency and lower costs due to KIUC being able to read these meters remotely.
· Improved power quality to help protect sensitive electronic equipment.
Members can expect the following on installation day:
· Although the member does not need to be present when the meter is installed, the installer will knock on the door or otherwise attempt to notify the member before the meter change.
· Power will be momentarily disrupted.
· Members may need to reset electronic devices once their installation is complete.
· After installation has been completed, the installer will leave behind a green door hanger. If the meter could not be installed, a red door hanger will be left behind providing an explanation and a contact number.
No action is required to install the new meter. However, if special circumstances (such as medical equipment or other vital electrical equipment) make it necessary for the member to be notified in advance of a power interruption, the member is directed to call KIUC.
KIUC is committed to protecting the privacy and security of its members’ personal information. KIUC also considers these new meters to be safe. These meters have been tested and validated to comply with FCC standards, and transmissions from the meters fall within safe levels of human exposure to radio frequency as defined by FCC OET Bulletin 65. For more information, please visit www.kiucrenewablesolutions.coop.
KIUC is offering a deferred installation option for members who do not want an advanced meter installed. If the member decides to defer installation, they do so with the understanding that they will not be receiving the benefits of the smart meter and that KIUC has agreed to defer installation while continuing to analyze the impacts that are caused by members who decide not to receive an advanced meter and how to address those impacts. Members who would like to be placed on the deferred installation list may contact KIUC at 246-4300 to request a deferred installation request form. This deferral program does not reflect a final determination by KIUC regarding advanced meter installations and KIUC may decide to obtain cost recovery for the costs and impacts caused from those members who decide not to receive an advanced meter.
KIUC will continue to offer regular updates on our initiatives and encourages you to access our websites at www.kiuc.coop or www.kiucrenewablesolutions.coop for more information.
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KIUC Seeking Volunteers as Part of Nationwide Pilot Project for In-Home Displays
April 2, 2012
Līhu‘e, Kaua`i, HI – Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) is seeking member volunteers to sign up for the new In-Home Displays (IHDs) pilot program.
KIUC is one of 27 cooperatives in 11 states who are participating in this nationwide pilot program to install 3,859 IHDs.
The IHD pilot project is a component of the Smart Grid project that KIUC is set to deploy in May with the installation of Smart Meters. IHDs communicate energy consumption in a way that members can easily understand, it allows customers to easily track and compare their usage, make smart decisions about their consumption, and lessen their environmental impact through educated consumption. In addition to showing energy usage and rate information, the display provides visual alerts for instant awareness of excessive demand in the home, via a red LED backlight.
Some key benefits of the IHD:
- Calculates and displays the cost of energy consumption
- Easy-to-read with large numbers and an LED back-light
- Counter top design allows for placement in high-traffic areas
- Actionable demand alert via LED lights
- Environmental impact displayed with carbon emissions rate
- Educate members on energy usage to encourage conservation
- Rates are always up-to-date (no need for members to input rate information)
Application forms and more information on the program can be acquired by contacting KIUC’s Energy Services at 246-8280/246-8284 or emailing info@kiuc.coop. Applications will also be available at www.kiuc.coop under the Energy Efficiency section.
KIUC Reports Power Restored to Island
March 28, 2012
Līhu‘e, Kaua`i, HI - Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) experienced transformer equipment failure at 5:15 p.m. today causing generators to trip offline, resulting in an island wide outage at the beginning of its evening peak.
KIUC’s evening peak occurs between 6 and 9 p.m. and averages 65 MW. KIUC restored approximately 12MW of power within the first hour and a half of the incident. At the three hour mark, approximately two-thirds of the island was restored as additional generation was brought online. Power was fully restored at 10:32 p.m.
Initially there were reports that a fire was seen at the Port Allen Generating Station. There was no fire. What people may have observed was a flash on one of the insulators, caused by the fault. A flash is an electrical fault that causes a visible arcing that looks like lightning.
The Kapaia Power Station (KPS), KIUC’s largest generator remains offline. KPS crews will continue working throughout the night to bring the unit back online. KIUC will provide an update on the status of the unit in the morning.
KIUC thanks everyone for their cooperation and patience while we restored power to the island.
Official Results of the 2012 Board of Directors Election
March 24, 2012
Līhu‘e, Kaua`i, HI - Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) announces that Karen Baldwin, Pat Gegen and Calvin K. Murashige have been elected to KIUC’s Board of Directors. These three directors will each serve for a 3-year term ending March 2015.
The official results of the 2012 Board of Directors Election are as follows:
1. Karen Baldwin 2,826
2. Calvin K. Murashige 2,618
3. Pat Gegen 2,350
4. Steve M. Rapozo 2,286
5. Ken Stokes 2,157
6. JoAnne S. Georgi 1,833
7. Joel Guy 1,514
8. Lesther Calipjo 1,437
9. Stewart “Stu” Burley 1,384
KIUC received 7,145 ballots in this election. While there were three available director slots to fill, not all voters chose to exercise all three votes on their ballot; therefore, the number of votes may not equal the total number of ballots received.
The KIUC Management with the assistance of the California-based Merriman River Group announced the official tally late this afternoon.
The newly-elected board members will be inaugurated on Tuesday, March 27 at 1:30 p.m. in the KIUC Main Conference Room, located at 4463 Pahe‘e Street in Līhu‘e. Following the inauguration, the board will hold its regularly-scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors at 3 p.m.
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KIUC Remains Committed to Smart Meter Implementation
March 19, 2012
Complaint Filed to Halt Rollout Disappointing
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i - David Bissell, CEO of Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) said today that we are disappointed that a local smart meter opponent felt the need to resort to the filing of a complaint with the federal court in Honolulu on Friday requesting an injunction to prevent KIUC from moving forward with its rollout of smart meters.
“While KIUC is committed to the smart meter technology, the cooperative has said it will indefinitely defer installation of smart meters for the small number of members who are opposed to the technology and submit a formal request,” Bissell said. “We hoped this deferral program and our many conversations with the community about smart meters would relieve the concerns raised by the plaintiff and prevent this issue from ending up in the courts.”
The complaint filed against KIUC asks the court to stop KIUC’s installation of smart meters, require KIUC to use an “opt-in” system for future installations of smart meters and have all KIUC members subsidize the expense associated with maintaining two separate metering systems.
“KIUC has worked diligently over the past three years to talk with members, answer questions and address concerns about smart meters,” Bissell added. “We have used our quarterly update meetings, board meetings, bill inserts, Currentsmagazine stories, news releases, and many other community presentations to share information and receive feedback. Some of that feedback led us to the idea of an indefinite deferral of installation as part of the initial smart meter rollout.”
Under the deferred installation plan, each member will receive two weeks’ notice prior to installation, and will be given clear instructions for notifying KIUC if they would like to defer. KIUC will take time to assess the situation with the few who defer and determine the most appropriate long-term solution without delaying the efficiency and cost control benefits of this technology to the majority of members.
The complaint, which closely mirrors a similar action filed against the city of Naperville, Ill., cites security and privacy concerns as the basis for its action.
“KIUC understands the importance of protecting our members’ privacy and security,” said Bissell. “It is important for our members to remember that KIUC has been responsible for protecting critical information and systems for years. Smart meters are new, but the duty to protect member privacy and ensure the integrity of our electrical grid is not. The storage, protection and sharing of members’ private information is strictly governed by co-op bylaws and policies.”
The smart meters to be deployed by KIUC will transmit data to the cooperative using encryption technology. KIUC will use the information to more efficiently manage its system, troubleshoot problems, and help members manage their electricity usage.
Quarterly Update Meeting
March 15, 2012
Join Us at Our Next Quarterly Update Meeting
KIUC will be having an incandescent bulb exchange at the meeting. Please bring in your old incandescent bulbs and we’ll replace them with energy efficient CFLs.
Kapaa Public Library Auditorium, 6 to 7 p.m.
KIUC to Develop Second Large Solar Project on Kauai
March 1, 2012
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i, HI – 03/01/12 – Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) announced today that it is pursuing a second major solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the 8-10 megawatt (MW) range. KIUC CEO and President David Bissell said, “We desire to expand our portfolio of KIUC-owned solar PV resources to lower our dependence on fossil fuels and the cost of electricity for our members.”
KIUC is issuing a Request for Offer (RFO) to landowners for sites to host the new PV project and is simultaneously inviting PV project developers who have a project and site identified to propose a turnkey construction solution to meet KIUC’s project design objectives.
With this new project, KIUC will have over 20 MW of low cost, member-owned PV projects in active development with construction planned for late 2012 or early 2013. When combined with the previously announced Anahola Solar Project being jointly developed with Homestead Community Development Corporation and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the two projects will provide 10% of Kauai’s energy needs at a cost significantly below current oil-fired generation.
Hydroelectric projects under study could account for another large increase in renewable generation, also at a cost far below that of current generation. “KIUC is well on our way of reaching our target of 50% renewable by 2023. Our board has worked hard to transform KIUC into a results oriented organization able to decisively move toward our strategic goals through both internal project development and relationships with renewable energy developers,” said Phil Tacbian, KIUC Board Chairman.
Bissell states that “KIUC is pleased to be at the forefront of economic development on Kaua‘i. Renewable energy projects under development, either KIUC owned or through power purchase agreements, will represent almost $200 million of capital investment and will provide several hundred construction jobs during these challenging economic times.”
“We have the unique opportunity to invest heavily in renewable projects and lower energy costs on Kauai, because of our heavy reliance on expensive oil. Access to low cost financing is a key to delivering cost effective renewable energy, and at a time of historically low rates, RUS financing is the lowest cost available” said Karissa Jonas, KIUC’s Chief Financial Officer. KIUC will be seeking financing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utility Service (RUS) for the new project and construction financing from Cooperative Finance Corporation. “
“The RFO is meant to be less formal than an RFP so that any interested parties that have control of a good solar site, including land owners who haven’t yet worked with a solar PV developer or KIUC, can quickly be considered for the next location of cooperative-owned, low-cost renewable energy,” said KIUC Power Supply Manager Brad Rockwell.
The RFO will be issued tomorrow, March 2, with a deadline of March 26. The evaluation process will consider, among other things, each site’s location, commercial terms, and environmental aspects, with possible short-list candidates being selected for lease negotiations. A formal Request for Proposal (RFP) for solar Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services may follow site selection, depending on whether the selected site includes a PV project EPC option.
For more information about the RFO, please contact Steve Rymsha via email at srymsha@kiuc.coop or by phone at 808.246.8287. The RFO will also be posted on KIUC’s website at www.kiuc.coop.
KIUC Clarification on Smart Meters & New PV Installation
February 28, 2012
Līhu‘e, Kaua`i, HI - Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) would like to clarify it has not yet commenced with its general installation of smart meters. KIUC plans to begin the installation process in April, and members will receive at least two weeks notification prior to the installation at their home or business. The only exception is for new customer-generator facilities as exampled by the article on the front page of The Garden Island newspaper this morning.
Any members who plan to install a customer-generation system that will be interconnected to KIUC’s system must follow the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission-approved tariff rules in reference to KIUC’s interconnection process to ensure safety and reliability. Any new customer-generator facility that exports power to the grid is also required to install a “bi-directional” meter that is capable of measuring incoming and outgoing energy to insure that members are being correctly billed and properly compensated for any excess energy that is generated and delivered to KIUC. These meters have limited functionality and will require manual reads until full smart grid infrastructure is in place. Connecting a customer-generator facility to KIUC’s system without an interconnection agreement is illegal.
KIUC has noticed an increase in customer PV systems being connected to KIUC without the necessary required interconnection agreements. We recently became aware of this type of unauthorized use when our employees detected improper functioning of meters that had not been replaced with the required interconnection-capable meters.
When a member connects their PV systems to KIUC without our knowledge, it also feeds power to our grid without our knowledge and therefore is a safety concern for our field employees. Improperly labeled infrastructure poses an extreme hazard for the employee(s) who are working on that circuit. In addition, uninspected, incorrectly connected, customer-generation systems pose threats to KIUC’s system reliability, possibly causing power outages.
KIUC encourages customer self-generation because it can help KIUC meet its renewable energy goals and help potentially reduce members’ electric bills. Visit our website for more information on smart meters and customer-generator PV installation.
HYDRO UPDATE
February 21, 2012
KIUC continues to make progress in pursuing hydropower and is continuing discussions with landowners and state and federal agencies. We expect to return to the community mid-year with additional hydropower information.
Open Letter to KIUC Members
February 15, 2012
Aloha All,
There has been much talk in the community recently about KIUC’s plans to replace existing electric meters with state-of-the-art digital two way meters. Many refer to this technology evolution as the Smart Grid using Smart Meters.
KIUC is participating in a national program where 50% of the meter replacement cost is paid by federal grant money. KIUC will also provide in home monitoring display systems for 500 member volunteers whose energy reduction successes will be reported to the study group to see if the program should be expanded to include more volunteer participants. No rate increase is anticipated in association with this project.
Smart meters are being installed all over the country and the world. Millions of these meters are currently being installed in California alone, and more than half the 900 member-owned electric cooperatives in the United States already have Smart Meters installed.
Benefits of Smart Grid:
With our new meters, KIUC members will have the ability to realize many benefits which will include:
• Energy savings from increased member knowledge of energy use. When you understand how an appliance or activity is using energy you can make informed decisions on investing in more efficient appliances, or changing your usage habits. After all, the cheapest energy is energy that you don’t use.
• Greatly improved outage response time. No longer will you need to call the utility when your power goes out. We will automatically know when your home or business is out of power and will be able to quickly dispatch a crew to restore service.
• Increased efficiency and lower costs due to KIUC being able to read your meters remotely without the need for meter readers. Our current meter reading staff will then be reassigned within the company. As a cooperative when we save money, you save money.
• Reducing green house gas emissions by eliminating 100,000 miles of annual driving by our meter readers and field service employees.
• Improved power quality monitoring to help protect sensitive electronic equipment. • Reduced dependency on foreign oil.
Health Issues:
KIUC considers the new meters to be completely safe. Our position is supported by leading authorities on health effects of Smart Meters whose findings are summarized below:
• The World Health Organization review states that “in the area of biological effects and medical applications of non-ionizing radiation, approximately 25,000 articles have been published over the past 30 years....Scientific knowledge in this area is now more extensive than for most chemicals.” These studies, it concludes, find that “current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields.”
• California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) states that “to date, scientific studies have not identified or confirmed negative health effects from potential non-thermal impacts of RF emissions such as those produced by common household electronic devices and smart meters.”
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) finds that “a number of reports have appeared in the scientific literature describing the observation of a range of biological effects resulting from exposure to low-levels of RF energy. However, in most cases, further experimental research has been unable to reproduce these effects. Furthermore, since much of the research is not done on whole bodies (in vivo), there has been no determination that such effects constitute a human health hazard.”
• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) said “Since this is not a field where EDF has a great deal of expertise, we also consulted with experts outside EDF — not just experts committed (as we are) to the development of smart power grids, but also experts who are much more focused on the dangers of EMFs and RFs...our position that the limited RF exposure levels associated with smart meters should not result in reduced support for the smart grid. Whether or not future studies find the overall RF problem to be significant, smart meters are a very small part of that problem. At the same time, the smart grid brings great environmental benefits: reduced greenhouse gases, reduced burning of fossil fuels and enhanced integration of solar and wind power.”
Privacy & Security
KIUC is committed to protecting the privacy and security of our members’ personal information.
Smart meters record a customer’s overall household energy use and demand information during a certain time period or periods. No individual appliance or device usage data will be accessible by the meters.
KIUC does not sell its members’ data to any third party. KIUC abides by stringent policies protecting the privacy and security of your electric usage data.
Meter manufacturers are incorporating security features and encryption technology into their meters, as recommended by national security experts. New meters allow us to determine if someone tampers with your meter.
Opt Out Program
KIUC has not decided if we will offer an option to allow members to elect out of Smart Meters. There are many issues to consider including: how should increased costs to the utility be recovered; should all members pay for the increased cost or only those who opt-out; what do we do if time of use rates are implemented and the analog meters cannot support the rate structure?
Until a decision on an opt-out program has been made, KIUC will establish a deferred installation process for members who do not want a Smart Meter. The deferral process will allow members to notify KIUC and no smart meter will be installed pending a final decision by the board. We anticipate installation to begin in April and we will provide more information as it becomes available.
Conclusion:
I hope that this letter has helped provide clarification on our Smart Grid and Smart Meter programs. I am excited about the opportunity to modernize Kauai’s electrical grid and hope that you will support our efforts. We will continue to offer regular updates on our initiatives and encourage you to access our websites at www.kiuc.coop or www.kiucrenewablesolutions.coop for further information.
Mahalo,
David Bissell
President and CEO Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
Smart Grid Informational Meeting
February 9, 2012
Get Smart About the Smart Grid. Join us for an informational meeting on Kauai's Smart Grid Initiative and get the facts on this new technology.
From 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the KIUC Main Conference Room.
Click here to view the informational flyer.
Join us via live blog at http://kiucrenewablesolutions.coop/renewable-technologies/smart-grid/smart-grid-informational-meetings.
Meeting of the Board of Directors
January 31, 2012
Kaua`i Island Utility Cooperative
Board of Directors Meeting
3:00 p.m., January 31, 2012
KIUC Main Conference Room
4463 Pahe`e Street
Līhu`e, Kaua`i, Hawai`i 96766
Koide to Head Transmission and Distribution at Co-op
January 20, 2012
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i – Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) is pleased to announce the promotion of Carey Koide to Transmission & Distribution Manager, reporting to Chief of Operations Mike Yamane. He assumes the position from John “Jack” Leavitt who is retiring after 23 years with Kaua‘i Electric (KE) and KIUC. Koide who has been with KE and the Cooperative for nearly 20 years, is a graduate of Kaua‘i High School and earned his BS in Electrical Engineering at UH Manoa. Koide has been a Professional Engineer (PE) since 1996.
Prior to KE, Koide worked for 5 years at Ford Aerospace / Space Systems Loral where he worked on the design of DC power regulation equipment for space station solar arrays.
“Carey’s many years of experience in key engineering and management positions at the utility have prepared him to take the reins in transmission and distribution,” said David Bissell, President & CEO at KIUC. “Our grid will experience new technological challenges due to our aggressive transition to renewable energy solutions. Carey’s background makes him uniquely qualified to work in that ever-changing environment.”
“I want to thank KIUC for this opportunity, and I look forward to serving the co-op membership in this new capacity,” said Koide.
Production Manager Brad Rockwell has been named Power Supply Manager, reflecting KIUC’s added focus in the areas of renewable and alternative fuel supply.
KIUC Nominating Committee Selects Candidates
January 13, 2012
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i, HI – In accordance with Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) bylaws, a KIUC board appointed Nominating Committee selected individuals to be placed on the ballot for three director positions on the nine-member Board of Directors.
Karen S. Baldwin, Stewart “Stu” Burley, Lesther Calipjo, Patrick S. Gegen, Joel Guy, Gordon LaBedz, Calvin Murashige, Steve M. Rapozo and F. Kenneth Stokes submitted resumes to the Nominating Committee chaired by non-voting board member Peter Yukimura and committee members Catherine Chandler, Charles Kawakami, Michael Murakoshi and Sherman Shiraishi.
The Nominating Committee selected Stewart “Stu” Burley, Lesther Calipjo, Joel Guy, Calvin Murashige, and Steve M. Rapozo to be on March’s ballot along with other qualified candidates who petition.
A director is one of nine elected representatives of the members of KIUC who collectively constitute the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors governs the business and affairs of KIUC but is generally concerned with the broad courses of action to be followed by the utility. The board is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the utility.
Qualified KIUC Members may also be placed on the ballot by collecting 35 signatures of other members (electric account holders) in good standing and by submitting a completed Member Petition to the Nominating Committee no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2012. All candidates with valid petitions who have completed the Director’s Orientation and signed the Affirmation Certificate Form and the Confidentiality and Nondisclosure Agreement required by Board Policy 18 will be placed on the ballot for the March 24, 2012 election. If you have questions or would like additional information please go to www.kiuc.coop or contact KIUC’s election hotline at 246-4378.
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KIUC Smart Grid Clarification
November 18, 2011
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 2nd 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.
KIUC Offers Smart Grid Community Outreach
October 24, 2011
Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii – Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) will host the first of a series of community outreach and education meetings on Wednesday, October 26 at their conference room in Lhu‘e.
In November of 2009 KIUC joined forces with a number of electric cooperatives around the nation to secure a federal grant to fund the installation of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and other smart grid technologies. These systems can help KIUC manage and monitor its grid more efficiently. Since many renewable energy technologies are less predictable than the fossil fuel generators they are replacing, smart grid technology is essential for managing fluctuations in supply and demand.
In addition to helping KIUC meet its renewable goal, AMI will allow the cooperative to provide its members with a variety of new programs and services. Please join Mike Yamane, Chief of Operations at KIUC, for a brief overview followed by an opportunity to talk to your co-op about the plans for the Kaua‘i Smart Grid Initiative (KSGI). “The initiative impacts all Kaua‘i ratepayers,” said Yamane. “So we want our members to understand their rights as a member including the right to be informed, the right to privacy and safety, and the right to data security.” KIUC encourages all members to attend on Wednesday, October 26, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Hana Kukui building main conference room, Lihue.
Live blogging for this event will be available at www.kiucrenewablesolutions.coop.
Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) is a not-for-profit generation, transmission and distribution cooperative owned and controlled by the members it serves. Headquartered in Lhue, Kauai, Hawaii, the cooperative currently serves more than 32,000 electric accounts throughout Kauai. Committed to reinventing how Kauai is powered, KIUC is aggressively pursuing diversification of its energy portfolio to include a growing percentage of hydropower, photovoltaic, bio-fuel, and biomass. For more information on Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, visit www.kiuc.coop or www.kauairenewablesolutions.coop.
FERC Dismisses Permits for Two Hydro Projects
October 20, 2011
Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) yesterday announced it will no longer issue non-mandatory preliminary permits for any Hawai‘i hydropower projects.
The decision resulted in the dismissal of two hydropower permit requests for the Kekaha Ditch System, one by Kahawai Power 4, LLC, and one by Kekaha Ditch Hydro, LLC. Kahawai is owned by the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Kekaha Ditch Hydro is owned by Pacific Light & Power.
The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s four existing investigatory permits for hydropower are not impacted by FERC’s ruling.
KIUC has been exploring hydropower on the Kekaha irrigation systems since 2004, and we will continue working with the community and with state agencies toward producing low-cost hydroelectric power for our island’s electric grid, said KIUC President and CEO David Bissell.
KIUC and its development services contractor, Free Flow Power, have met for hundreds of hours with community groups, landowners, state authorities and others to define the process to responsible development of hydroelectric energy. It is a technology, when developed by the community’s non-profit cooperative, that should provide generation at a much lower cost than any other existing technology.
