Hawaiian Electric under fire for service issues and high costs
HONOLULU (KHON2) — State lawmakers grilled Hawaiian Electric and the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Monday over rising electricity costs and what they called unreliable service, during a hearing examining the state's performance-based regulation system.
Deadly force 'justified' in 2023 Pearl City unattended police rifle case
The system, known as PBR, was implemented in 2021 to encourage utilities to improve performance while controlling costs. But lawmakers expressed concern that the policy has yet to deliver meaningful benefits to consumers.
About 80,000 Hawaii residents are considered 'energy burdened,' meaning they spend a disproportionate share of their income on electricity, according to lawmakers. Nearly 13,000 customers were disconnected in 2023 for nonpayment.
'Undoubtedly the rates are going to go up and we're getting poor service,' said Sen. Glenn Wakai, (D), the Senate Majority Floor Leader. 'How are you going to reconcile this for the public?'PUC Chairman Leo Asuncion responded that the commission has opened a docket specifically to review the disconnection process used by Hawaiian Electric and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC).
Hawaiian Electric Vice President Jim Kelly testified that the utility posted a $1.2 billion loss last year. 'That was our profit—$1.2 billion loss,' he said. 'I just wanted to have that correct for the record.'
Wakai pointed out that part of the loss was related to wildfires, which Kelly confirmed. 'We're talking about rates—where the public is paying for power, and it's always disrupted—and it's three times the national average,' Wakai added.
During the hearing, lawmakers also revealed the existence of a whistleblower complaint alleging internal staff and morale issues at the PUC, which they said could be hampering the commission's ability to effectively regulate key industries.
Asuncion denied the allegations raised in the complaint.
Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news
The hearing marked the latest in a series of state-level efforts to scrutinize Hawaii's energy policies amid mounting public frustration over costs and service reliability.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Hawaiian Electric under fire for service issues and high costs
HONOLULU (KHON2) — State lawmakers grilled Hawaiian Electric and the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Monday over rising electricity costs and what they called unreliable service, during a hearing examining the state's performance-based regulation system. Deadly force 'justified' in 2023 Pearl City unattended police rifle case The system, known as PBR, was implemented in 2021 to encourage utilities to improve performance while controlling costs. But lawmakers expressed concern that the policy has yet to deliver meaningful benefits to consumers. About 80,000 Hawaii residents are considered 'energy burdened,' meaning they spend a disproportionate share of their income on electricity, according to lawmakers. Nearly 13,000 customers were disconnected in 2023 for nonpayment. 'Undoubtedly the rates are going to go up and we're getting poor service,' said Sen. Glenn Wakai, (D), the Senate Majority Floor Leader. 'How are you going to reconcile this for the public?'PUC Chairman Leo Asuncion responded that the commission has opened a docket specifically to review the disconnection process used by Hawaiian Electric and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC). Hawaiian Electric Vice President Jim Kelly testified that the utility posted a $1.2 billion loss last year. 'That was our profit—$1.2 billion loss,' he said. 'I just wanted to have that correct for the record.' Wakai pointed out that part of the loss was related to wildfires, which Kelly confirmed. 'We're talking about rates—where the public is paying for power, and it's always disrupted—and it's three times the national average,' Wakai added. During the hearing, lawmakers also revealed the existence of a whistleblower complaint alleging internal staff and morale issues at the PUC, which they said could be hampering the commission's ability to effectively regulate key industries. Asuncion denied the allegations raised in the complaint. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The hearing marked the latest in a series of state-level efforts to scrutinize Hawaii's energy policies amid mounting public frustration over costs and service reliability. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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That's why UX is not an afterthought—it's a priority. A professional AR development company ensures compatibility across all major platforms: iOS (ARKit): Apple's native AR framework provides advanced tracking, facial recognition, and real-world interaction features. Apple's native AR framework provides advanced tracking, facial recognition, and real-world interaction features. Android (ARCore): Google offers a platform for developing AR apps on Android, featuring motion tracking and environmental recognition. Google offers a platform for developing AR apps on Android, featuring motion tracking and environmental recognition. WebAR: Allows users to experience AR directly from a web browser, without downloading an app. This reduces friction and improves reach. Allows users to experience AR directly from a web browser, without downloading an app. This reduces friction and improves reach. 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Mental Health Therapy: AR is used in treating phobias and PTSD through exposure therapy in controlled environments. Why AR is seen as a vital and transformative technology in healthcare. AR enhances the shopping experience by bridging online and offline worlds: Virtual Try-Ons: AR technology lets users preview how clothes, glasses, or makeup will look on them, helping them make more confident purchase decisions. AR technology lets users preview how clothes, glasses, or makeup will look on them, helping them make more confident purchase decisions. Product Previews: Visualize furniture in your home or test a paint color on your wall—right from your phone. Visualize furniture in your home or test a paint color on your wall—right from your phone. Interactive Catalogs: Print materials can trigger AR demos of products or explainer videos. This improves profitability by lowering product return rates and raising conversion rates. 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