Another fixed cost for HECO is paying for tree trimming under electric lines every two years, because they choose to cut branches 6 inches below the wires, not several feet or to the ground so trees won’t immediately grow back.
The best example of how ridiculous this HECO "policy" is, is best shown here in the Acres where every few years comes the Ashplundh crew in a bucket truck and another support truck on contract with HECO to trim the treetops at the 6 inch below the line mark, followed by a few weeks later with the same truck, the same crew now on contract with Hawaiian Telcom cutting the already cut treetops to 6 inches below the telephone/fiber optic lines.
You would think for the sake of the consumer, these costs could be shared between HECO and Hawaiian Telcom, but, well here we are.
The best example of how ridiculous this HECO "policy" is, is best shown here in the Acres where every few years comes the Ashplundh crew in a bucket truck and another support truck on contract with HECO to trim the treetops at the 6 inch below the line mark, followed by a few weeks later with the same truck, the same crew now on contract with Hawaiian Telcom cutting the already cut treetops to 6 inches below the telephone/fiber optic lines.
You would think for the sake of the consumer, these costs could be shared between HECO and Hawaiian Telcom, but, well here we are.