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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, November 10, 2005

Conservation, cooler weather help cut HEI's net income

Advertiser Staff

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. said third-quarter net income slipped 12.1 percent to $37.5 million because of increased utility operations and maintenance costs. HEI is the parent of American Savings Bank, Hawaiian Electric Co., Hawaii Electric Light Co. Inc. and Maui Electric Co.

THE NUMBERS

Revenue: $491.3 million, up 19.8 percent from a year ago

Net income: $37.5 million, down 12.1 percent from a year ago

Earnings per share: 46 cents, down 13.2 percent from a year ago

HECO net income: $22.6 million, down 13.7 percent from a year ago

American Savings net income: $15.9 million, up 3.3 percent from a year ago

REASONS

  • HECO's lower net reflects increased conservation by consumers and reduced usage because of cooler weather.

  • American Savings continued to benefit from growth in loans and core deposits.

  • Maintenance and other utility operations costs increas- ed by $6.7 million.

    WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

    "We saw demand levels increase significantly last year, so we are comparing sales against a high bar. (There was) lower usage due to less-humid weather and more energy conservation."

    Robert Clarke
    Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. chief executive

    WHAT'S NEXT

    HECO, which received a 3.3 percent interim rate increase in September from the state Public Utilities Commission, is waiting for the commission to rule on a 1.9 percent rate increase to pay for the expansion of its energy-efficiency and energy- conservation programs.

    Under a 20-year plan, the utility is considering building a 100-megawatt power plant at Campbell Industrial Park to handle peak loads and a 180-megawatt coal-burning plant.