LIHUE — Despite efforts by the public to sway its decision, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors voted unanimously Tuesday to stand by its ballot language for the upcoming special election related to smart meters. “I too want
LIHUE — Despite efforts by the public to sway its decision, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors voted unanimously Tuesday to stand by its ballot language for the upcoming special election related to smart meters.
“I too want to keep it as simple as possible, but I also want to make sure people understand,” board member Pat Gegen said.
Originally, the language did not include the specific fees that co-op members will soon have an opportunity to weigh in on. The election begins Jan. 3, with ballots due Jan. 25.
Those fees include a one-time set-up charge and a $10.27 monthly fee for those customers who have opted not to use the new smart meter technology.
Now, the ballot includes the monthly fee — which the board identified as the one that generated the most animosity — as well as attempts to explain the difference between a “yes” and “no” vote.
“The KIUC Board of Directors voted to charge fees to those who choose not to use the standard smart meter,” the ballot reads. “The fees, including a $10.27 monthly charge, were approved by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and cover the additional costs of installing and reading older meters. This ballot allows members to approve or reject the board action. A YES vote supports the board decision. It means that only those who choose not to have a smart meter will pay the additional charges. A NO vote overturns the board decision. It could result in all members paying the costs of installing and reading the old meters.”
Board member Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian said community members asked him to keep the language simple and explain what each vote represents.
“I think this language that we have proposed here covers that,” he said.
While some board members expressed they would like to see even simpler language, all voted in favor.
“We did not include the other fees because they are one-time charges that don’t affect 95 percent of the people because they’ve already opted out and kept their old meters,” Board Chair Allan Smith said. “We also added the fact that the Public Utilities Commission has approved these fees. It is important for our members to know that these fees were subject to the scrutiny of the agency whose job it is to regulate our operations and our rates.”
Jonathan Jay, one of three drafters of a petition against the additional fees, said he was opposed to the language because it included an endorsement by the PUC, a hypothetical statement and could be contested as biased.
The upcoming election will allow co-op members to vote on whether they believe the costs of reading and servicing old electric meters should be shared by the entire membership or remain with those customers who opt not to use the new technology.
KIUC has said the election will cost its membership $63,000.
