This letter is a response to Ray Mierta’s letter to the Forum, “Energy Wise program has helped many customers,” July 7, defending the benefits of the Energy Wise program, specifically for solar water heating. Ray seems to be proud of
This letter is a response to Ray Mierta’s letter to the Forum, “Energy Wise
program has helped many customers,” July 7, defending the benefits of the
Energy Wise program, specifically for solar water heating. Ray seems to be
proud of the efforts of the program and admits they have limited the number of
systems to 60 per year while thousands are installed on the other
islands.
Sure they pay the largest rebates to a few people, as much as
$10,000 one person and $4,000 to one other while most people get nothing. But
that’s not considered very wise to me, nor fair. Every ratepayer pays for this
program and should benefit from it if they want to. The biggest problem,
however, is that Kaua’i Electric fixes the price that contractors may charge
for a system. He doesn’t mention this in his article, that’s why so few of the
800 people who qualify have not been able to get one. Typically the price is
fixed far too low to have a system installed.
The Energy Wise program for
solar water heater needs to be changed so it’s fair for all ratepayers. I have
asked the P.U.C. to investigate their unfair practices. I hope they act
quickly.
Paul Lucas
Lawa’i
