PUC announces decision on interveners in HECO case
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
The state Public Utilities Commission issued three decisions and orders this week on who will be allowed to intervene in hearings on Hawaiian Electric Co.'s plan to build a $55 million underground transmission line beneath Honolulu streets.
Eight groups and individuals filed motions in January to intervene in the HECO case, but only two — environmental watchdog group Life of the Land and a group of area legislators comprised of Sen. Carol Fukunaga, D-11th (Makiki, Pawa'a), Rep. Scott Saiki, D-22nd (McCully, Pawa'a), and City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi — were allowed to do so.
Interveners are allowed to take part in and provide testimony during official hearings related to the project.
Four community groups — Malama O Manoa, Ho'olaulima O Palolo, Kapahulu Neighbors and the Palolo Community Council — were given "participant" status in the case. The groups will be allowed to submit statements of position but cannot cross-examine or bring in witnesses of their own.
Michelle Matson and Carolyn Walther asked to intervene as individuals in the hearings but were denied.
In its March 23 order, the PUC said Matson and Walther failed to show their interests are "reasonably pertinent" to the case.
The utility plans to bury almost three miles of 46,000-volt lines under streets in the McCully-Mo'ili'ili area over the next five years, a project that will require excavation of some of the city's busiest streets. Paying for the project will raise monthly residential bills on O'ahu as much as $1 a month for about 40 years.
HECO spokesman Peter Rosegg said the project will increase the reliability of power transmission to East Honolulu and Waikiki.
"HECO respects the PUC decision and is eager to move forward," Rosegg said.
Henry Curtis, executive director of Life of the Land, said the next step is for the interveners and HECO to develop a list of the issues that will be discussed and a timeline for the hearings.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
