02-27-2011, 09:50 AM
Worst case - complete power failure - Best case, no noticeable change - most likely there could be some change in service.
As with anything on this island, best to be prepared for it than not prepared....
A strike would include HECO, MECO, HELCO IBEW electrical workers, including the HECO, MECO, HELCO owned, non-supervisory power plant workers, line workers, some office workers, power operations workers.
This would include much of the Hawaiii state power generation, but not include the independent generators. It would include the operations guys that coordinate the islands grid, so response to grid changes could be off.... also the line workers, so storm response could be slower, and the HECO, MECO, HELCO owned power plants would be working on supervisory staffing only.
HECO, MECO, HELCO has not had a strike in many years, so how each island would be effected is not a sure thing. In the past, black out times were noted, along with some line voltage fluctuations (brown outs).
The union was negotiated down to asking for maintaining retirement age requirements, medical benefits & single tier wage negotiation, having conceded on salary increase & eliminating the electric compensation benefit. When the company did not enter mediation, these concessions were removed from the table.
As HECO, MECO, HELCO rates were already raised through PUC this last year, in order to maintain dividends at 6% return. Stockholders may now be asked to carry more of the burden...
Yesterday the negotiations were expended to Monday (at the eleventh hour)
As with anything on this island, best to be prepared for it than not prepared....
A strike would include HECO, MECO, HELCO IBEW electrical workers, including the HECO, MECO, HELCO owned, non-supervisory power plant workers, line workers, some office workers, power operations workers.
This would include much of the Hawaiii state power generation, but not include the independent generators. It would include the operations guys that coordinate the islands grid, so response to grid changes could be off.... also the line workers, so storm response could be slower, and the HECO, MECO, HELCO owned power plants would be working on supervisory staffing only.
HECO, MECO, HELCO has not had a strike in many years, so how each island would be effected is not a sure thing. In the past, black out times were noted, along with some line voltage fluctuations (brown outs).
The union was negotiated down to asking for maintaining retirement age requirements, medical benefits & single tier wage negotiation, having conceded on salary increase & eliminating the electric compensation benefit. When the company did not enter mediation, these concessions were removed from the table.
As HECO, MECO, HELCO rates were already raised through PUC this last year, in order to maintain dividends at 6% return. Stockholders may now be asked to carry more of the burden...
Yesterday the negotiations were expended to Monday (at the eleventh hour)