Hawaii's Consumer Advocate and a State Representative
Unique Renewable Goals
Conversations with the division of consumer advocacy’s executive director Dean Nishina and state representative Chris Lee.
The States
Hawaii PUC: Jayson Kauwenaole
Head of Compliance and Consumer Affairs
“Our goal is to get them in compliance. We’re not there to shut down any business.”
Hawaii PUC: Gina Yi
Interim Chief Engineer
“I review applications from such utilities as Hawaiian Electric, reviewing its application for major projects, which includes electric diagrams.”
Hawaii PUC: Dave Parsons
Chief for Policy and Research
“We don’t testify, generally. Our Staff is advisory, so we’re an extension of the Commissioners. Our job is to investigate the issues before the Commission and advise them.”
Hawaii PUC: Caroline Ishida
Chief Counsel
“The state Supreme Court has looked at some novel issues raised by some of the parties related to environmental considerations like greenhouse gases.”
Hawaii PUC: Jennifer Potter
Commissioner
“Our journey of PBR was solidified by legislation that did mandate that we investigate a way to break the link between capital investment and revenue for the utility.”
Hawaii PUC: Leo Asuncion
Commissioner
“The focus for us right now is cost containment of the companies. Are the costs justifiable to us that eventually the ratepayer needs to pay in base rates?”
Hawaii PUC: Jay Griffin
Chair
“Early in my term, I was at a backyard barbecue with a friend and he pulled out his electricity bill in front of the whole crowd and asked me to explain all the line items.”
Visiting Hawaii's PUC
Unique Renewable Goals
We interviewed the chair, commissioners and more at Hawaii's Public Utilities Commission.
Hawaiian Electric: Leland Cockcroft and Robert Kaneshiro
Hawaii Electric Light subsidiary
“We have four cross-island transmission lines of 69 kV. During that storm, three of them got affected, so we only had one transmission line remaining across the island.”