LIHUE — A group of 18 members (customers) of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative from diverse backgrounds and areas of the island agreed that the co-op should concentrate on developing renewable-energy resources, and expanding residential energy-conservation programs. Walt Barnes, KIUC board
LIHUE — A group of 18 members (customers) of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative from diverse backgrounds and areas of the island agreed that the co-op should concentrate on developing renewable-energy resources, and expanding residential energy-conservation programs.
Walt Barnes, KIUC board member and chair of the board’s Strategic Planning Committee, said the focus group wants KIUC officials to pursue acquisition of the former Amfac Lihue Plantation power plant, which can burn bagasse and other biofuels to generate electricity.
Bagasse is a byproduct produced during the processing of sugar cane.
Regarding energy conservation, the group knows about KIUC’s Energy Wise program, which promotes and encourages home energy conservation, likes that program, and would like to see it expanded, Barnes told board members and KIUC staff at its May board meeting.
The focus group met recently, concluding also that KIUC is more caring and easier to do business with than its investor-owned predecessor, Kauai Electric, and that the small group would like to see more of this friendliness, Barnes reported.
The focus-group session, convened by a professional facilitator, is part of KIUC officials’ efforts to find out from KIUC members who now own the electric company what projects KIUC officials should undertake, and which directions to move in the future.
Regarding member refunds, called “patronage capital” in co-op lingo, members of the focus group liked the refunds, because it shows KIUC officials care. But they didn’t want larger refunds, preferring that additional income be used to pay down debt or provide other member services, Barnes said.
Where undergrounding of power lines is concerned, focus-group members thought it was a good idea until they learned how much more expensive it is to bury power lines than string them on poles, he continued.
“We have a job to do,” communicating the high cost of undergrounding, Barnes said.
Divided into two separate groups, one with eight people and the other with 10 people, there were divergent opinions on the current quality of power KIUC supplies. One group thought power quality wasn’t good, and should be improved. The other felt the quality is fine, and more money should not be spend in that area, he said.
When the topic was charitable giving, one group felt that $100,000 a year to local causes was sufficient, but the other group felt the annual amount should be at least doubled, with KIUC getting visibility as a major sponsor of some major event on the island, said Barnes.
Members of the focus group felt they wanted more co-op financial data on a more regular basis, possibly as monthly inserts in electric bills, and that perhaps there should be some qualifications required for those wishing to run for board seats, Barnes continued.
The focus group is separate from a telephone survey commissioned to get detailed information from some 400 residential customers and 125 business customers. Results of that telephone survey are expected to be released in mid-June.
Ron Kouchi, KIUC board member and former member of the Kauai County Council, thinks results from the telephone survey will differ significantly from results reached by the focus group.
Still, the telephone survey will provide KIUC officials baseline data that never existed before, on member feelings, sentiments and wishes, said Anne Barnes, KIUC communications coordinator.
