Time for a co-op ADVERTISING Time for a co-op Because there is no competitor to keep prices in line, our electric utility, HELCO, has a government commission to oversee its rate charges — thus the existence of our state’s Public
Time for a co-op
Because there is no competitor to keep prices in line, our electric utility, HELCO, has a government commission to oversee its rate charges — thus the existence of our state’s Public Utilities Commission. The problem is the state of Hawaii has been paying the highest utility rates in the nation.
Meanwhile, the CEO of HEI, the parent company of HELCO, has been “earning” more than $6 million per year. HEI shareholders also have done well. For years, it’s only “we the people” who have been losing out — big time.
Publicly owned co-ops in the U.S. offer rates 20 percent lower than those charged by private power companies. A publicly owned co-op does not have to pay its CEO millions and spend money on lobbyists and payments to its shareholders. A co-op is not profit-driven, so it can sincerely promote solar and other nonfossil fuel energy sources to address the environmental crisis.
Co-ops work in the public interest. Kauai now has a successful publicly owned electric co-op. The publicly owned co-op utilities in Palo Alto, Calif., and Los Angeles have a history of transferring millions of dollars to their local governments.
Isn’t it time to stop profit-driven HEI — or NextEra — from continuing to milk our community? Isn’t it time to aggressively promote renewable energy?
Who can protect us from the profit motives of NextEra and HEI? What sort of organization can promote environmental sustainability and fair prices?
The PUC should push HEI to let HELCO become a public co-op.
Noelie Rodriguez
Ninole
Getting away with it
All the kids she stole money from are looking to see what our judicial system did to Greta “Pua” Correa for stealing their dreams (“Pop Warner thief sentenced,” Tribune-Herald, July 22).
They see that excuses do make a difference. She had a broken heart, and there are no “real” penalties for stealing nearly $100,000. So, Judge Ronald Ibarra has sent the keiki and the world the wrong message.
Best to prosecute people who steal from children in federal court — they take these crimes way more seriously then the state.
Shame on you, Judge Ronald Ibarra. What, she your cousin or something?
Beckie Marshall
Hilo
