Latest news with #DarrenPai
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Kokua Line: Will time-of-use power rates expand after study?
Question : Is it true that the PUC or perhaps HECO has decided not to roll out variable TOU rates statewide now that the one-year Shift and Save pilot program period has ended ? Answer : Yes, Hawaii's Public Utilities Commission issued Order No. 41713 on May 21, entitled 'Closing the Advanced Rate Design Track, ' which says that Time-of-Use rates evaluated in the Advanced Rate Design study 'did not achieve the essential goals of meaningfully shifting electricity use to daytime hours and empowering all customers to save money ' and therefore should not expand as-is to all Hawaiian Electric customers. The order also says that the studied TOU program, marketed as Shift and Save, shall remain open to customers who are currently enrolled, unless they opt out. Hawaiian Electric closed Shift and Save to new enrollments as of Feb. 1, when the one-year pilot period ended. There were about 20, 000 customers in the pilot program, who 'will be informed about the program's close and that they may choose to opt out. The purpose of the pilot was to test how these rates would work in real life in households and businesses. We now have detailed data on customer behavior related to price signals, which can help inform future decisions about rate design, ' Darren Pai, a spokesperson for Hawaiian Electric, said in an email Tuesday. Shift and Save encouraged 'customers to shift their energy use from evening peak and overnight hours when rates are higher to the daytime when solar energy is abundant and rates are lower, ' Hawaiian Electric's website says. However, the company's final report on Shift and Save, posted by the PUC on May 1, said its time-of-use rates 'did not achieve a meaningful shift of electricity use to the daytime off-peak period and were not structured and /or implemented to provide all customer categories with an opportunity to reduce their bills, particularly residential customers who work full-time during the day and /or commute in an electric vehicle, ' according to the PUC's order. Hawaiian Electric and other parties have until June 18 to respond to the PUC's order. Q : I read articles about the Shinnyo Lantern Floating at Ala Moana Regional Park, and I was just wondering about the details of the ceremony : what are the lanterns made of, what are they floating on, are they cleaned and reused or recycled afterwards, do any blow away into the open ocean, etc ? I realize the importance of the event to the participants in honoring lost loved ones, but am also hoping that the environment is honored and protected from further degradation in this age of diminishing resources and environmental crisis. A : Each of the 6, 000 individual lanterns are comprised of a foam base, paper lantern, a candle in a foil cup and a plastic rudder, according to the event's website. They're designed to catch on lines strung across the water to ensure they don't float out to sea. Volunteers on canoes retrieve them after the ceremony ends. Some parts, such as the foam bases and plastic rudders, are cleaned and reused year after year, while the paper on which prayers and remembrances are written is removed and disposed of 'in a proper and spiritually respectful way, ' according to the website, The ceremony also includes large guiding lanterns and collective remembrance lanterns, which are made of different materials but which also are retrieved and reused, it says. Shinnyo-en is a school of esoteric Buddhism founded in Japan in the 1930s ; its first temple outside of Japan was dedicated in Hawaii in 1971, the website says.------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kokua Line: Why are clocks running 6 minutes fast?
Question : Is anybody else noticing their clocks running faster and faster ? Mine are about six minutes ahead. Not on my cellphone but on my oven, microwave, etc. What is happening ? Answer : Fluctuations in Hawaiian Electric's power frequency caused the problem, which readers asked about and which a Hawaiian Electric spokesperson says now has been fixed ; reset your clocks and they should run normally. The problem affected clocks that rely on the power grid to keep time. 'Typical plug-in clocks, including clocks on ovens, alarms, and microwaves, use the electrical system frequency to track time. Even a slight deviation in this frequency can affect the time on plug-in clocks, causing it to speed up or slow down. These fluctuations don't affect reliability but they can occasionally cause enough of a deviation to be noticeable on plug-in clocks, as has been the case recently on Oahu. We have replaced the equipment used to compensate for these fluctuations, so any affected clocks should operate normally. The clocks in many devices, such as mobile phones, computers and tablets, use quartz crystals or time synchronizing systems such as satellites as a time reference and should not have been affected. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank customers for their patience, ' Darren Pai, spokesperson for Hawaiian Electric, said in an email Tuesday. Electric clocks use the alternating current of the power grid like a metronome, which means the clocks run slower or faster than they should depending on the frequency fluctuation. Changes in demand for electricity may cause the fluctuation, which electrical utilities must control. Hawaii's Public Utilities Commission requires in General Order 7 that 'the standard frequency for alternating current distribution systems shall be 60 cycles per second. The frequency shall be maintained within limits which will permit the satisfactory operation of customers' clocks connected to the system.' You are one of several readers who noticed their oven, microwave or bedside clocks running fast ; some also said their DVRs were affected. The discrepancy increased over time (by about 20 seconds a day, according to one reader ) to the point that affected clocks were running about six minutes fast when we emailed Pai on Monday. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. He responded the next day, explaining the source of the problem and assuring that it was fixed—plug-in clocks should not continue to drift faster after being reset. Q : Does the city even have toll roads ? I got a text that I know is a scam but it seems like an especially dumb one ; still, people should know about it. A : 'The text message is fraudulent as the City and County of Honolulu has no toll roads and the DMV does not collect toll fees, ' Honolulu's Division of Motor Vehicles said in a news release last week, alerting the public to this scam. The fraudulent text says the recipient has an unpaid toll bill and must pay it to avoid a fine and keep their license. Anyone who receives this text should block the sender immediately and delete the text without responding to it, the city says ; don't click on any links in the text. Mahalo Like many other people, I haven't had a lot of good things to say about the federal government lately but I want to thank the U.S. Department of State. My passport was due to expire this month and I took advantage of the online renewal option. My wife took an iPhone photo of me and I filled out the form. I received my passport book and card in 12 days and they sent emails to me at every step in the process. I wish all of our interactions with our government could be that prompt and satisfying.—Jim Petersen, Mililani------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Officials urge public to prepare for severe weather
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The first winter storm of the season is expected to impact the Hawaiian islands as early as Wednesday evening through Monday, the National Weather Service in Honolulu issued a special weather statement stating an 'unusually strong low pressure system' will pass north of the state on Thursday bringing a multi-faceted threat for significant weather to the Hawaiian islands. The statement adds there is an enhanced risk of strong to severe showers and thunderstorms with a primary threat of damaging wind gusts, particularly over the western end of the state. Officials are prepping for the bad weather and asking residents to do the same. Parts of Oahu saw seven inches of rain overnight Sunday into Monday which resulted in multiple power outages across the windward side. The NWS said the approaching storm will be much larger than Sunday's passing storm. 'The outages were all largely weather related, it varied depending on the area and which outage, but largely we're talking about the impacts from heavy rain and severe weather such as downed trees or other objects coming into contacts with the lines,' explained HECO spokesperson Darren Pai. The National Weather Service says windward sides of Kauaʻi and Oahu are at risk for damaging downslope winds Wednesday night through Friday. 'The track and intensity of this system, how close it gets to the islands, is going to determine how bad things get,' explained NWS Honolulu Science and Operations officer Robert Ballard. 'But if there's strong winds associated with thunderstorms, those could affect pretty much any part of the islands, including Maui County and the Big Island,' Ballard added. 'Also flash flooding, that would be just about anywhere.' The NWS said leeward sides could see the most rainfall totals from the approaching storm. 'I'm afraid that with some of these thunderstorms coming through, we're going to see really heavy rainfall rates that that are going to overwhelm and it will help the drought situation, but it's also not all going to soak in effectively, and a lot of it will turn into runoff,' Ballard continued. He said areas prone to power outages from strong Kona wind events will have a greater chance of outages. 'We want folks to kind of start thinking about preparing for both, like, power outages and some wind damage possibilities. Then also if you've got a camping trip or something later this week planned where you're going to be away from civilization, you don't have your cell phone, can't check the weather, that's probably not a great idea, you might want to reschedule,' Ballard continued. Kauaʻi County is also asking people to avoid outdoor activities and reminding drivers Kuhio Highway at Hanalei bridge could close with little to no warning. The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management said its monitoring the system to see if additional prep is necessary. HECO said it has been maintaining trees and branches in the mountains near transmission lines on a regular basis but wants customers to be prepared. 'Officials with the National Weather Service are forecasting severe weather from a strong low-pressure system that will pass north of the state later this week,' said Kaua'i Emergency Management Agency Administrator Elton Ushio. 'Given the nature of heavy rain events on Kaua'i, we urge everyone to stay vigilant and avoid outdoor activities in flood-prone areas like roadways, hiking trails, rivers/streams, and low-lying areas.' Officials advise the public not to call Kaua'i Police Dispatch for weather-related or road conditions, as these calls significantly interfere with regular work. For road and closure conditions, call 808-241-1725. For weather questions, contact the National Weather Service automated weather line at 808-245-6001 or visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
