PUHI — A guest to the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative 21st annual meeting at Kaua‘i Philippine Cultural Center remembered out loud about how everyone came when you gave out rice.
Free reusable shopping goodie bags containing Light Emitting Diode lamps, a free bag of rice, and bowls of chili and rice greeted the first 250 guests to the annual meeting themed “Looking Back, Looking Forward: Reflections on 20 years.”
This was the first in-person meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic, and attended by about 100 people, including many that had earlier engaged in the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Mayor’s Luncheon sponsored by Alaska Airlines at Koloa Landing Resort.
KIUC President and Chief Executive Officer David Bissell was joined by the KIUC Board of Directors in the informational presentations that included the KIUC 2022 Annual Report, and the 2023-2033 Strategic Plan Update, full copies both being available on the KIUC websites.
“On November 2, 2002, KIUC first formed as a cooperative,” Bissell said in his forward to the annual report. “Looking back over the past 20 years, there are so many achievements to celebrate. Looking forward, we continue to strive to be industry leaders as the world adopts new technologies to address new challenges.”
In 2022, Bissell outlined three key accomplishments, including renewable progress where KIUC for the fourth straight year leads the state in renewable generation at 60.2 percent by using both utility-scale, rooftop solar and biomass.
KIUC added biodiesel provided by Pacific Biodiesel to its portfolio in June.
And in looking forward, The West Kaua‘i Energy Project in partnership with AES, proposed as a pumped storage hydro facility that will utilize solar and battery technology is still in development and is expected to bring KIUC to more than 80 percent renewable.
KIUC also led the state in 2022 with the best reliability statistics.
KIUC, since May of 2022, residential rates have been the lowest in the state of Hawai‘i. For the past 15 month, residential rates have remained the lowest in the state, between 10 and 30 percent lower than any other island. Bissell said this is largely because of KIUC’s renewable projects that are purchased via fixed-prices on long-term power purchase agreements.
Other topics covered by the KIUC leadership included the KIUC ongoing rate case request with the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission, a status report on the draft Habitat Conservation Plan, continuing efforts to secure federal grant funding for projects and new rebates for its members.
For more information, including copies of the KIUC Annual Report and the 2023-2033 Strategic Plan, visit kiuc.coop.
