Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative hosts 21st Annual Meeting
Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative on Thursday hosted its 21st Annual Meeting, the first in-person since the COVID-19 pandemic, with about 100 members in attendance.
Co-op Board Chairman Allan Smith greeted the crowd and noted the meeting was timely, as Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative is celebrating its 20th anniversary. President and Chief Executive Officer David Bissell also provided an informational presentation that spotlighted three key accomplishments reached in 2022:
- Renewable energy progress: For the fourth year in a row, the co-op led the state in renewable generation at 60.2% by using utility-scale and rooftop solar, hydro and biomass. In June, the co-op added biodiesel, provided by Pacific Biodiesel, to its portfolio. The West Kauaʻi Energy Project, a proposed pumped storage hydro facility that will also use solar and battery technology, is still in development and expected to bring the cooperative to more than 80% renewable.
- Reliability: Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative also led the state in 2022 with the best reliability statistics.
- Rates: Since May 2022, the co-op’s residential rates have been the lowest in Hawaiʻi. For the past 15 months, they have remained the lowest in the state, between 10% and 30% lower than any other island. This is largely because of renewable projects, which are purchased via fixed-prices on long-term purchase power agreements.
Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors member David Iha presents a co-op member with door prize during the 21st Annual Meeting on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative)- Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative staff engineer Brandon Simpliciano holds a box of chili to pass out to members during the co-op’s 21st Annual Meeting on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative)
- 2023 Youth Tour delegates Joveline Alvarez of Waimea High School, Bailey Ponce of Island School and Sarah Morioka of Kapaʻa High School. (Photo courtesy of Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative)
Other topics covered during the presentation included the ongoing rate case request with the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission, a status report on the draft Habitat Conservation plan, continuing efforts to secure federal grant funding for various projects and new rebates for co-op members.
The Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors also presented the 2023 update to the Strategic Plan, with goals centered on the cost of electricity, carbon footprint, resilience and reliability.
A copy of the full presentation can be found here. The 2022 Annual Report and Strategic Plan update can be read online.
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