WATER BOARD, COUNTY OF HAWAI’I
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Water Board of the County of Hawai’i will hold public hearings on the Proposed Water Rates at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the Liquor Control Conference Room, 101 Aupuni Street, Unit 230, Hilo, Hawai’i, and at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the West Hawai’i Civic Center, Building G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i.
Pursuant to Chapter 54, Part III, Hawai’i Revised Statutes, the hearings will be for the purpose of hearing views and comments of all persons interested in the following proposals for increases in the water rate schedules to be applied by the Department of Water Supply, County of Hawai’i, for all districts.
Not all components of the Department’s water rate structure are subject to change at this time. Those components remaining unchanged include: General Use Block Thresholds, Agricultural Use Block Thresholds, Power Cost Charges, and Energy CIP Charges.
PROPOSED GENERAL USE RATES (per 1,000 gallons)
In addition to standby, power cost, and energy CIP charges, a consumption charge will be applied to all general use customers.
Current Proposed Proposed Proposed
Rates July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 July 1, 2026
1st Block $1.25 $1.37 $1.50 $1.64
2nd Block $2.72 $2.98 $3.26 $3.57
3rd Block $4.78 $5.23 $5.73 $6.28
4th Block $6.35 $6.95 $7.61 $8.34
PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL USE RATES (per 1,000 gallons)
In addition to standby, power cost, and energy CIP charges, a consumption charge will be applied to all agricultural use customers.
Current Proposed Proposed Proposed
Rates July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 July 1, 2026
1st Block $1.25 $1.37 $1.50 $1.64
2nd Block $2.72 $2.98 $3.26 $3.57
3rd Block $1.73 $1.89 $2.07 $2.27
PROPOSED MONTHLY STANDBY CHARGES
All meter connections shall be subject to a monthly standby charge as follows:
Meter Size Current Proposed Proposed Proposed
(inches) Rates July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 July 1, 2026
5/8″ $27.37 $29.97 $32.82 $35.93
1″ $58.26 $63.79 $69.86 $76.49
1½” $108.39 $118.69 $129.96 $142.31
2″ $169.36 $185.45 $203.07 $222.36
3″ $310.27 $339.75 $372.02 $407.36
4″ $510.80 $559.33 $612.46 $670.65
6″ $1,012.11 $1,108.26 $1,213.55 $1,328.83
8″ $1,615.04 $1,768.47 $1,936.47 $2,120.44
10″ $2,330.42 $2,551.81 $2,794.23 $3,059.68
12″ $4,064.69 $4,450.84 $4,873.66 $5,336.66
PROPOSED MONTHLY STANDBY CHARGES FOR PRIVATE FIRE PROTECTION
For each connection of automatic fire sprinklers or other private fire protection, there shall be a standby charge per month, in addition to consumption, power cost, and energy CIP charges, based on the size of the connection as follows:
Size of Service Current Proposed Proposed Proposed
(inches) Rates July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 July 1, 2026
2″ $24.39 $26.71 $29.24 $32.02
3″ $47.42 $51.92 $56.86 $62.26
4″ $65.04 $71.22 $77.98 $85.39
6″ $161.23 $176.55 $193.32 $211.68
8″ $245.24 $268.54 $294.05 $321.98
PROPOSED MONTHLY STANDBY CHARGES FOR FIRE LINE OR FIRE SERVICE METERS
For each connection of combined fire and domestic services, there shall be a standby charge per month, in addition to consumption, power cost, and energy CIP charges, based on the large size of the connection as follows:
Size of Service Current Proposed Proposed Proposed
(inches) Rates July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 July 1, 2026
3″ $280.46 $307.11 $336.28 $368.23
4″ $460.67 $504.43 $552.35 $604.82
6″ $914.56 $1,001.44 $1,096.58 $1,200.75
8″ $1,460.58 $1,599.34 $1,751.27 $1,917.64
10″ $2,101.45 $2,301.08 $2,519.69 $2,759.06
PROPOSED STANDPIPE CHARGES
New customers obtaining water service from Department of Water Supply standpipe facilities shall be charged an initial payment and on a monthly basis for the proportional cost of the standpipe facility. These charges are as follows and in addition to general use consumption, standby, power cost, and energy CIP charges:
Current Proposed Proposed Proposed
Rates July 1, 2024 July 1, 2025 July 1, 2026
Initial Payment:
Meter Size
5/8″ $247.95 $271.50 $297.29 $325.54
1″ $499.96 $547.45 $599.46 $656.41
1½” $623.25 $682.46 $747.30 $818.29
2″ $746.55 $817.47 $895.13 $980.17
Amortized
Installation Cost
– Monthly:
Meter Size
5/8″ $13.55 $14.84 $16.25 $17.79
1″ $27.10 $29.67 $32.49 $35.58
1½” $33.87 $37.09 $40.61 $44.47
2″ $39.29 $43.02 $47.11 $51.59
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: The purpose of the public hearing is to afford all interested persons a reasonable opportunity to provide comments on the Proposed Water Rates for Fiscal Year 2025, Fiscal Year 2026, and Fiscal Year 2027. Comments may be presented orally at the public hearing or submitted to the Chairperson in writing by email (dws@hawaiidws.org), fax (808-961-8657), or by mail: 345 Kekuanao’a Street, Suite 20, Hilo, HI 96720. All testimony, regardless of time of receipt, will be part of the permanent record.
Remote Oral Testimony:
Telephone testimony may be presented by calling 1 (669) 254-5252 and entering meeting
ID 161 825 3018. The Chair will unmute testifiers who call in, one phone number at a time.
Optional Alternative to Present Remote Oral Testimony:
If you would like to testify via an online video link, please email dws@hawaiidws.org at least 24 hours before the meeting to request the link. You may also email to pre-register to present telephone testimony if you wish to be called on by name or before those who have not pre-registered. Testifiers who wish to remain anonymous or have not pre-registered may still call the testimony phone number and follow the instructions listed above.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Information about all the board’s public hearings are available here General information about the board is available at About the Water Board.
In the event the online remote connection is interrupted during the public hearing, the hearing shall recess for up to 30 minutes to allow for reestablishing the online remote connections. If the online remote connection cannot be reestablished after 30 minutes the hearing shall be adjourned and then reconvene per the following contingency plans:
Board shall reconvene on: April 24 and 25, 2024, 9:45 a.m.
Board shall reconvene at: DWS, Hilo Operations, 889 Leilani Street.
If you would like to testify via an online video link, please email dws@hawaiidws.org before the meeting to request the weblink or phone number to testify.
REMOTE MEETING LIVE STREAM:
https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiDWS/live_videos/
If accommodation or auxiliary aid and/or services (i.e., sign language, interpreter, large print) to participate in the hearing is required, please call (808) 961-8050.
Dated at Hilo, Hawai’i, this 27th day of March, 2024.
WATER BOARD OF THE
COUNTY OF HAWAI’I
By: Stephen Lopez
Its Chairperson
The Department of Water Supply is an Equal Opportunity provider and employer.
Posted on the Internet at:
http://www.hawaiidws.org
(WHT1450242 4/01/24)
