Public Utilities Commission

The State of Hawaii Public Utilities Commission will hold a series of state-wide public hearings starting October 4 regarding Hawaii Gas’ application for rate increases and revised rate schedule and rules. All are invited to attend the public hearings and state their views on the application, which is described further below.

Public Hearing Information

Date & Time	Island	Location
October 4 5:00 p.m.	Kauai	In-person Lihue State Office Building Conference Room 209 A, B, & C 3060 Eiwa Street Lihue, Hawaii 96766
October 14 5:30 p.m.	Molokai	Online (via web browser or WebEx mobile device app) Link: https://hpuc.my.webex.com/hpuc.my/j.php?MTID=md6a931d2131e548cb918950132ea91cd Meeting Number: 2558 808 5541 Meeting Password: YugHZdZP532 Telephone Dial-in Number: +1-650-479-3208 Access Code: 2558 808 5541
October 15 5:30 p.m.	Lanai	Online (via web browser or WebEx mobile device app) Link: https://hpuc.my.webex.com/hpuc.my/j.php?MTID=mfdfc6229543da3061a38b7d3da3c93b1 Meeting Number: 2559 848 1732 Meeting Password: CBjPQqf9b39 Telephone Dial-in Number: +1-650-479-3208 Access Code: 2559 848 1732
October 17 5:30 p.m.	Maui	In-person Kihei Elementary School 250 E Lipoa Street Kihei, Hawaii 96753
October 25 5:30 p.m.	Oahu	Hybrid Participation Options In-person PUC O‘ahu Office 465 S. King Street, Room 103, Honolulu Online (via web browser or WebEx mobile device app) Link: https://hpuc.my.webex.com/hpuc.my/j.php?MTID=m2255b735ff7ed8a6805558617a364302 Meeting Number: 2558 610 7635 Meeting Password: 2PqUvJS7hg3 Telephone Dial-in Number: +1-650-479-3208 Access Code: 2558 610 7635
October 28 5:00 p.m.	Hawaii Island – Kona	In-person Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) Hale Iako Building, Collaboration Area 73-987 Makako Bay Drive Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
October 29 5:00 p.m	Hawaii Island – Hilo and Kauai Island (online only)	Hybrid Participation Options In-person UH Campus Center, Room 301 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Online (via web browser or WebEx mobile device app) Link: https://hpuc.my.webex.com/hpuc.my/j.php?MTID=m5719c981599eaa416df35e6087ce0d4d Meeting number: 2557 567 6777 Meeting Password: GSdgcCkz282 Telephone Dial-in Number: +1-650-479-3208 Access code: 255 756 76777

Brief Summary of Application

Hawaii Gas is a public utility that provides gas service to approximately 36,000 customers on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. The Company’s operations include the purchase, production, transmission, distribution, and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

On July 26, 2024, Hawaii Gas filed an application, (“Application”), requesting Commission approval of a total revenue increase of $24.346 million, or approximately 17.67% increase over revenues at current effective rates. The Company further seeks approval of a fair rate of return of 9.05% on rate base, revisions to its rate schedules and rules, and approval of two tariff riders. Under its proposal, Hawaii Gas would recover upgrade costs to its bare and coated steel replacement programs through its Main Upgrade Program Rider. Incremental annual increases to the Company’s insurance premiums would be addressed by the Insurance Premium Recovery Rider.

According to Hawaii Gas, its operating costs have increased since its last rate increase in 2019 due to a number of factors, including but not limited to increases in operations and maintenance and labor expenses, compliance with federal/state regulations, and capital investments in plant and equipment for fuel diversification, system reliability and safety.

By island, Hawaii Gas’ proposed revenue changes are as follows:

ISLAND	REVENUE CHANGE	PERCENTAGE
Oahu	$24,375,527	19.42%
Hawaii	$ (36,067)	-0.42%
Maui	$ 69,936	3.03%
Kauai	$ (62,723)	-4.89%
Molokai	$ 3,138	5.21%
Lanai	$ (3,673)	-13.23%

To view the full Application and all docketed documents, see the “DOCUMENTS” tab for Docket No. 2024-0158.

The Commission will investigate whether Hawaii Gas’ proposed rate increases are just and reasonable.

Public Comments and Statements

Comments may be submitted in writing or given orally during the hearing. All written comments will be publicly accessible on the PUC’s Case and Document Management System.

• COMMENTS DURING THE HEARING:
  Persons wishing to give oral comments should register at the time of the hearing. Submission of written comments in addition to giving oral comments is highly encouraged.

• WRITTEN COMMENTS:
  All written comments should reference Docket No. 2024-0158 and include the author’s name and the entity or organization that the author represents, if any. Submit written public comments via the following methods:
  • Online at:
    https://hpuc.my.site.com/cdms/s/consumers/public-comments
  • E-mail at:
    [email protected]
  • Mail to:
    Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
    465 South King St., #103
    Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

MORE INFORMATION:

• Notice of Public Hearing – Kauai
• Notice of Public Hearing – Kauai Island (virtual)
• Notice of Public Hearings – Maui County
• Notice of Public Hearing – Oahu
• Notice of Public Hearings – Hawaii Island
• Press Release
• Hawaii Gas Application
  • Part 1 (pdf)
  • Part 2 (pdf)
  • Attachment 1 (xlsx)
  • Attachment 2 (xlsx)
  • Attachment 3 (xlsx)
  • Attachment 4 (xlsx)
  • Attachment 5 (xlsx)
• Docket No. 2024-0158

Updated 10/4/2024