MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaii Electric Light Company hosts a series of public meetings to receive public comment on Integrated Resource Planning.

This is the process established by the Public Utilities Commission whereby the utilities plan for future energy needs over a 20-year planning period. The process runs in cycles and is repeated every three years so that changing conditions can be taken into account.

The utilities’ goal is to file an Integrated Resource Planning Report for each company with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission by June 28, 2013.

Meeting schedule:

* 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, Hilo Imiloa Astronomy Center, 600 Imiloa Place, Hilo

* 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, Waikoloa Elementary, 68-1730 Hooko St., Waikoloa

* 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, Pahala Community Center, 96-1149 Kamani St., Pahala

HELCO recognizes the great interest many people have in the energy future, so is hosting these meetings to listen to comments and obtain further input.

Comments can also be posted online at public@irpie.com. Comments must be attached to an email that includes the submitter’s name, date, and island.

The state Public Utilities Commission initiated the latest round of Integrated Resource Planning in March 2012 with Docket 2012-0036 and named Carl Freedman of Maui-based Haiku Design & Analysis as the Commission’s “independent entity” to oversee the process.

The commission also named a 68-member IRP Advisory Group composed of representatives from diverse locations and organizations in Hawaii to provide public input to the Hawaiian Electric utilities in the planning process. Fifteen members were selected from Hawaii Island.

According to the PUC, “The goal of integrated resource planning is to develop an Action Plan that governs how the utility will meet energy objectives and customer energy needs consistent with state energy policies and goals, while providing safe and reliable utility service at a reasonable cost, through the development of Resource Plans and Scenarios of possible futures that provide a broader long-term perspective.”

Scenarios under development for Hawaii’s energy future are described in detail among the complete Integrated Resource

In brief, the scenarios are:

* Blazing a Bold Frontier: High oil prices and policies supporting clean energy resources

* Stuck in the Middle: Moderate but growing oil prices with uncertain public policy regarding clean energy resource and infrastructure implementation

* No Burning Desire: Lower oil prices with waning policy support for clean energy

* Moved by Passion: Moderate but growing oil prices with aggressive clean energy policies

The utilities will also consider comments in the preparation of energy resource action plans that will be presented for further public comment in the spring of 2013.

— Find out more:
www.irpie.com