WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate approved an amendment in its Rural Development Appropriations bill Thursday making a $113 million loan available towards the purchase of the Kaua’i Electric Company. The bill, which was introduced by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate approved an amendment in its Rural
Development Appropriations bill Thursday making a $113 million loan available
towards the purchase of the Kaua’i Electric Company.
The bill, which was
introduced by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye , designates two possible recipients of
the loan. One recipient named is the Kaua’i Island Utility Co-op, which is
currently negotiating the buyout with KE’s owner, Citizens Communications, and
the second is the County of Kaua’i.
The County of Kaua’i?
Two weeks ago
the county, along with the Navy and the state Consumer Advocate, announced
their opposition to the sale, saying that the $270 million price tag was too
high. The sale’s approval is now pending before the Public Utilities
Commission.
County officials would not say whether the county is going to
try to buy KE if the sale is shot down by the PUC.
“We need to look into
all options,” said Beth Tokioka, public information officer for the
county.
Last month, the county administrative assistant Wallace Rezentes,
Sr. and Council chair Ron Kouchi traveled to Washington, D.C.
“We went
there to make sure those funds would be protected if the deal didn’t go through
and offer an alternative if need be,” Rezentes said.
He added that the
funds could be used by the County of Kaua’i as well as any other non-profit
organization that would qualify for the loan.
Inouye said he was concerned
that Kaua’i residents’ electric rates are among the higest in the country, due
to the island’s dependency on refined oil and the cost of repairing the isle’s
electricity system that was devastated by Hurricane ‘Iniki in 1992.
Kaua’i
power customers now pay more than 20-cents per kilowatt-hour, which is twice
the rate of Honolulu power customers, he said.
“My primary concern is that
Kaua’i residents receive stable and reliable service, without fear of further
rate increases, and that Kaua’i Electric’s personnel remain employed,” Inouye
said.
“At this point, I felt it important that the loan amount for Kaua’i
be maintained as an option that may be executed at the appropriate time,”
Inouye said.. The House passed its version of the bill earlier this month. The
Senate and House bills will face a joint House-Senate Conference to resolve the
differences between the measures. A conference version of the bill will be sent
to the Senate and House for final approval before it is transmitted to the
White House.
