NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
APPLICATION OF HAWAII-AMERICAN WATER COMPANY
FOR APPROVAL OF A GENERAL RATE INCREASE AND CERTAIN TARIFF CHANGES FOR ITS HAWAII KAI, MAUNA LANI AND WAIMEA DISTRICTS
Docket No. 2024-0038
The STATE OF HAWAII PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ("Commission"), pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes §§ 269-12 and 269-16, HEREBY GIVES NOTICE that it will hold public hearings relating to the Application of Hawaii-American Water Company (“HAWC”), filed on August 2, 2024, as supplemented on August 23, 2024, for Commission approval of a general rate increase and certain tariff changes for its Hawaii Kai, Mauna Lani and Waimea Districts. HAWC’s Application relates to HAWC’s provision of (1) wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal service to the residences, condominiums, commercial and other establishments and facilities in the Hawaii Kai community on the island of Oahu, State of Hawaii (“Hawaii Kai”); wastewater services to the residents, occupants, homeowner associations, hotels and commercial establishments at the Mauna Lani Resort area on the island of Hawaii (“Mauna Lani”); and wastewater services to the residential, commercial and other customers in the Waimea area on the island of Hawaii (“Waimea”).
The public hearings in this docket will be held as follows:
1. Hawaii Kai:* (In-person and online attendance options)
In-Person: Friday, October 25, 2024, at 5:45 p.m. or five (5) minutes after completion of the prior matter
Public Utilities Commission Hearing Room
Kekuanao`a Building
465 South King Street, Room 103
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Online (via web browser or WebEx mobile device app)
Link:
https://hpuc.my.webex.com/hpuc.my/j.php?MTID=m2255b735ff7ed8 a6805558617a364302
Meeting Number: 2558 610 7635
Meeting Password: 2PqUvJS7hg3
Telephone
Dial-in Number: +1-650-479-3208
Access Code: 2558 610 7635
2. Mauna Lani:* (In-person attendance ONLY)
Monday, October 28, 2024, at 5:15 p.m. or five (5) minutes after completion of the prior matter
Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority
73-987 Makako Bay Drive
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
3. Waimea:* (In-person attendance ONLY)
Monday, October 28, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. or five (5) minutes after completion of the prior matter
Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority
73-987 Makako Bay Drive
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
*Note: The public hearing will be held directly following the public hearing for a separate matter, In re The Gas Company, LLC dba Hawaii Gas, Docket No. 2024-0158, involving Hawaii Gas’ application seeking the Commission’s approval of rate increases and revised rate schedules and rules.
HAWC seeks Commission approval of a 2025 test year net revenue increase of: $1,382,060 in total revenues or approximately 11.45% over total revenues at present rates for Hawaii Kai; $897,060 in total revenues or approximately 64.90% over total revenues at present rates for Mauna Lani; and $194,450 in total revenues or approximately 32.60% over total revenues at present rates for Waimea. If approved, the proposed revenue increase will provide HAWC with the ability to recover its prudently incurred operating costs. HAWC’s present and proposed charges are as follows:
HAWAII KAI
Customer Class Current Proposed %age
Change
Residential Units:
Single-Family Residential Unit $79.21 $88.28 11.45%
(monthly service charge per dwelling unit)
Multi-Family Residential Unit $67.40 $75.12 11.45%
(monthly service charge per dwelling unit)
Commercial (Non-Residential) Units:
Food Service Operation $18.98 per $21.15 per 11.43%
1k gallons of 1k gallons of
water used water used
Non-Food Service Operation $11.65 per $12.98 per 11.42%
1k gallons of 1k gallons of
water used water used
Public Authority–Other $11.65 per $12.98 per 11.42%
1k gallons of 1k gallons of
water used water used
Public Authority–Dwelling $4.40 per $4.90 per 11.36%
1k gallons of 1k gallons of
wastewater wastewater
treated treated
MAUNA LANI
Customer Class Current Proposed %age
Change
Residential Units:
Residential Condos $45.78 $75.49 64.90%
(monthly service charge per dwelling unit)
HOA $45.78 $75.49 64.90%
(monthly service charge per dwelling unit)
Commercial (Non-Residential) Units:
Commercial Sewer $45.78 $75.49 64.90%
(monthly service charge per equivalent unit)
Commercial Hotel $45.78 $75.49 64.90%
(monthly service charge per hotel room unit)
WAIMEA
Customer Class Current Proposed %age
Change
Residential Units:
Single-Family Unit $108.47 $143.83 32.60%
(monthly flat-rate charge)
Multi-Family Unit $108.47 $143.83 32.60%
(monthly flat-rate charge)
Commercial (Non-Residential) Units:
All Other Facilities $14.41 per $19.10 per 32.55%
(including commercial, recreational, 1k gallons of 1k gallons of
schools, churches, etc.) water used water used
As part of its Application, HAWC also requests, among other things, that the Commission: (1) approve changes to each of its division’s existing “Rules and Regulations”; (“Tariff,” or “Tariffs” if referring to the Rules and Regulations for more than one of HAWC’s divisions), including, without limitation, adding a new rule for a Catastrophic Event Tracking Mechanism to address cost recovery related to the restoration, repairs, replacement, and compliance with government agency orders resulting from declared disasters;1 adding a new rule for a Capital Infrastructure Surcharge Mechanism that facilitates smaller, more gradual rate increases by annually updating eligible capital expenditures completed in the prior calendar year and implementing a surcharge to recover HAWC’s return and related revenue requirement on those investments;2 revising the Schedule of Wastewater Rates for residential, commercial and public authority customers to reflect the rates and rate structure proposed by HAWC to reflect HAWC’s requested revenue requirement;3 updating certain definitions;4 adding a new section for an Automatic Power Cost Adjustment Clause to address power cost recovery;5 aligning language in an older tariff with language in a recently Commission-approved tariff;6 and (2) granting such other relief as may be just and reasonable under the circumstances.
The Commission will investigate whether the proposals in the Application are just and reasonable. The foregoing is a brief summary of the requests included in the Application. Copies of the Application are available for public review through the Commission’s electronic Case and Document Management System, accessible at https://hpuc.my.site.com/cdms/s/search, Docket Number 2024-0038. In addition, copies of the Application are also available for review by contacting the Commission’s Honolulu Office [(808) 586-2020] or the Division of Consumer Advocacy [(808) 586 2800].
All interested persons are invited to attend the public hearing to state their views on Hawaii-American Water Company’s Application. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Commission as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate/accessible formats.
Statements may also be e-mailed to the Public Utilities Commission, at puc@hawaii.gov or mailed to the Public Utilities Commission, 465 South King Street, Room 103, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. All written statements should reference Docket No. 2024-0038. Motions to Intervene or Participate in this proceeding shall comply with subchapter 4, Rules of Practice and Procedure Before the Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 16, Chapter 601. A motion to intervene or participate in this proceeding shall be filed with the Commission’s Honolulu Office by November 7, 2024.
___________________________________________
1The proposed change applies to Hawaii Kai’s, Mauna Lani’s, and Waimea’s Tariffs.
2The proposed change applies to Hawaii Kai’s, Mauna Lani’s, and Waimea’s Tariffs.
3The proposed change applies to Hawaii Kai’s, Mauna Lani’s, and Waimea’s Tariffs.
4The proposed change applies to Mauna Lani’s Tariff.
5The proposed change applies to Mauna Lani’s and Waimea’s Tariffs.
6The proposed change applies to Waimea’s Tariff.
____________________________
Leodoloff R. Asuncion, Jr.
Chair
(WHT1470146 10/7, 10/15, 10/21, 10/26/24)
