Join the Big Island Community Coalition for Lowest Electricity Rates

Richard Ha writes:

The Big Island Community Coalition is determined to make Big Island electricity rates the lowest in the state.

After all, we have the best combination of renewable resources here on the Big Island. It will proactively weigh in wherever electricity rates are involved.

The fundamental problem with the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative is that it does not require that the electric utility choose lower cost solutions. It does not take into consideration the rubbah slippah folks.

Two-thirds of our economy is made up of consumer spending. If in place of expensive electricity we had affordable electricity, businesses would grow, farmers would farm and we would not be sending our children to the mainland to look for jobs.

Visit the Big Island Community Coalition website to join the mailing list and support the Big Island Community Coalition's Priority #1: "Make Big Island electricity rates the lowest in the state by emphasizing the use of local resources."

Comments

[Chris Cook]

I'm a huge admirer of your work and initiatives, but I think you need to take a different 'energy economics' approach.

If you cut the cost of electricity in dollars it will soon be the case that rents and property prices will rise to hoover up the savings.

It's what always happens. I'm reminded of what happened in London a few hundred years ago when a free bridge across the Thames replaced a ferry which cost a penny each way. Rents South of the Thames rapidly rose by about a shilling a week (12 pennies) to take up the slack.

The answer is simply to monetise energy by creating units returnable in payment for energy and distributing them as an 'energy dividend' to all islanders.

These recent presentations of mine in Kansas City covered the subject, as well as much else.

http://www.slideshare.net/ChrisJCook/introduction-flight-to-simplicity

http://www.slideshare.net/ChrisJCook/flight-to-simplicity-resolution

http://www.slideshare.net/ChrisJCook/flight-to-simplicity-transition

[punated]

Very nice article on how to interpret a HELCO bill:

http://hawaiienergy.com/news/view/110
Dissect a HELCO Bill

This is an article about Avoided Cost Contracts. HELCO claims they are under a legal requirement to charge all electricity at oil burning rates. The state is removing this legal requirement. Also pay attention to SB 656, a bill requiring the rates become public information:

http://www.disappearednews.com/2012/03/is-avoided-cost-to-blame-for-high.html
Avoided Cost Contracting