PUC hearings
PUC hearings
The upcoming PUC hearings on the HEI-NextEra acquisition provide all of Hawaii Island ratepayers the opportunity to let the PUC know how we feel about the problems we have with burgeoning electricity costs, poor service, grid incapacity and the failure of HEI to provide an integrated resource plan to incorporate our islands’ vast, renewable energy resources.
It’s our chance to let the PUC know we support the effort of the Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative to implement a new model for electricity sustainability on Hawaii Island — a model based on public ownership of energy production and transmission.
After all, most of our state’s renewable energy resources are owned by the “public trust.” PUC public hearings are set in Hilo (6 p.m. Sept. 29, Hilo High School) and Kona (6 p.m. Sept. 30, Kealakehe School). Testimony can be sent in by email to hawaii.puc@hawaii.gov.
It’s not a difficult choice: Do we want to continue under a monopoly business model that benefits a few, or do we want an equitable system that develops and transmits energy owned by the people, for the people?
Mililani B. Trask
Honolulu
Airline should explain
On July 16, on a return trip from San Jose, Calif., via Hawaiian Airlines, after my girlfriend and I went to California for her to undergo brain surgery, we had a three-hour (unrequested) stop on Maui upon arriving there. My girlfriend was not feeling well through most of the flight. So, as soon as we arrived on Maui, she tried to reschedule our return flight for the next day.
We were told there would be a $135 fee for each of us, totaling more than $270. This was a fee for changing flights more than two hours in advance.
We ended up purchasing new tickets for about $240 for both.
They said we can use the other tickets within a year, and they credited us nothing for those tickets already purchased. Their excuse was because it was purchased as a connecting flight.
I ask you at Hawaiian Air to explain in open forum so all the Tribune-Herald readers can know and understand why it cost more to reschedule for a later time than it cost to purchase new tickets? Also, how much did you make for our two empty seats July 16?
Timothy Snedecker
Pahoa