HECO meeting set for Kaimuki
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
Responding to a community call for a location closer to the areas affected, Hawaiian Electric Co. has added a fourth public meeting to discuss its East O'ahu Transmission Project.
The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Kaimuki High School's auditorium.
The presentation will be identical to three previous meetings held last week, with an overview followed by a question-and-answer session, but this meeting is being held closer to the affected areas of P?lolo and McCully.
This is where the meeting should have been held in the first place, said Darlene Nakayama of the P?lolo Neighborhood Board. She encourages all residents to attend.
"We were asked for a meeting closer to the areas that may be affected by the short-term construction impacts of the three underground alternatives we are considering, including Ala Moana, McCully, King Street and P?lolo," said Robbie Alm, HECO senior vice president for public affairs.
HECO is detailing its plans for either a 138,000-volt underground transmission line to connect the Kamoku and Pukele substations or two 46,000-volt lines. The new line would back up HECO's electrical system.
The line through Palolo would cost up to $122 million and raise the average monthly residential home bill by up to $2 a month. The 46,000-volt alternatives would cost up to $59 million and increase monthly residential bill by up to $1 a month if built.
One of the three alternatives will be moving forward by the end of the year, the company said. A Community Advisory Committee, including residents, businesses and Wa'ahila opponents, has been formed by HECO to create a report on public concerns. The report will be presented to the Public Utilities Commission, which is the approving authority for the proposed project.
Nakayama said the meetings are not properly addressing the need for this project, but HECO says need will be determined by the PUC.
A follow-up meeting to last week's Dole Cannery meeting will be held at 7 p.m. July 8 at Kaimuki High to complete the question-and-answer session.
