NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
APPLICATION OF WAIKOLOA RESORT UTILITIES, INC., dba WEST HAWAII UTILITY COMPANY, WAIKOLOA SANITARY SEWER COMPANY, INC., dba WEST HAWAII SEWER COMPANY, WAIKOLOA WATER CO., INC., dba WEST HAWAII WATER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF A GENERAL RATE INCREASE AND CERTAIN TARIFF CHANGES.
Docket No. 2024-0224
The STATE OF HAWAII PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (“Commission”), pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statues (“HRS”) §§ 269-12 and 269-16, HEREBY GIVES NOTICE that it will hold a public hearing regarding Waikoloa Resort Utilities, Inc. doing business as West Hawaii Utility Company (“WHUC”), Waikoloa Sanitary Sewer Company, Inc., dba West Hawaii Sewer Company (“WHSC”), and Waikoloa Water Co. Inc., dba West Hawaii Water Company (“WHWC” and collectively “Waikoloa Utilities”) request for a rate increase, as stated in its Amended Application for Approval of a General Rate Increase and Certain Tariff Changes (“Amended Application”) filed on December 17, 2024. The public hearing will be held as follows:
February 10, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Waikoloa Elementary & Middle School
68-1730 Hooko St.
Waikoloa, HI 96738
Online (via web browser or WebEx mobile device app)
Link:
https://hpuc.my.webex.com/hpuc.my/j.php?MTID=mddf0b4fd0edfe 4665d8cd255483d774c
Meeting number: 2553 624 9377
Password: 0224
Telephone
Dial-in Number: +1-650-479-3208
Access Code: 255 362 49377
WHUC is a public utility that provides water and wastewater service to condominiums, hotels, and commercial establishments within the Waikoloa Beach Resort area on the Island of Hawaii. WHUC also provides irrigation water service. WHSC is a public utility that provides wastewater collection and treatment service within the Waikoloa Village on the Island of Hawaii. WHWC is a public utility that provides potable water service to residences, condominiums and commercial establishments within Waikoloa Village on the Island of Hawaii.
On December 17, 2024, Waikoloa Utilities filed its Amended Application requesting approval of an 8.01% rate of return on its prudently incurred system improvements. Waikoloa Utilities further seeks approval of two tariff riders: (1) a surcredit to return the over-collected income tax expense resulting from the Tax Cuts Jobs Act (“TCJA”) reducing the corporate tax rate from a 35% to 21%; and (2) a surcharge to collect deferred COVID-19 expenses related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Waikoloa Utilities propose the following revenue increases, by utility, as follows:
Revenue Requirement
Utility Percent Change Change
WHWC 67.9% $1,876,050
WHSC 55.3% $1,242,020
WHUC Water 30.0% $1,543,408
WHUC Sewer 12.0% $635,062
WHUC Irrigation (9.2) ($31,040)
The Commission will investigate whether Waikoloa Utilities’ proposed relief is just and reasonable. The foregoing is a brief summary of the requests included in the Amended Application. Copies of the Amended 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 2024-0224. In addition, copies of the Amended Application are also available for review by contacting the Commission’s Office [(808) 586-2020], or the Division of Consumer Advocacy [(808) 586-2800].
All interested persons are invited to attend the public hearings to state their views on Waikoloa Utilities’ Amended 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. 2024-0224. 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 February 20, 2025.
______________________________
Leodoloff R. Asuncion, Jr.
Chair
(WHT1481015 1/18, 1/27, 2/03, 2/07/25)
