12-06-2008, 05:01 PM
Charles, HECO is in Honolulu, and probably thinks their product is cheap. It's cheaper than here, HELCO is tops, and they're getting applause for their "alternative" solutions, albeit at our misery come billtime. They have the cost this high to attract and keep enough alt's fat and happy at a small scale, no one steps out of line and only HELCO gets fat. No one can use the economics of scale to increase their production and sell more cheaper.
Geothermal, right now could supply the entire island with solid non intermittant supply, but HELCO say they couldn't transmit same if we had it because of lousy lines(very true). As long as there's a monopoly on juice, we'll keep getting screwed.
Mabe one thing to help, if all politicians in the state had to recuse themselves from voting on any energy related matters if they hold stock in any state protected monopoly company (or their immediate family).
And with the new prez's statment about rebuilding infrastructure, it might even be a chance to get buried lines.
Geothermal, right now could supply the entire island with solid non intermittant supply, but HELCO say they couldn't transmit same if we had it because of lousy lines(very true). As long as there's a monopoly on juice, we'll keep getting screwed.
Mabe one thing to help, if all politicians in the state had to recuse themselves from voting on any energy related matters if they hold stock in any state protected monopoly company (or their immediate family).
And with the new prez's statment about rebuilding infrastructure, it might even be a chance to get buried lines.
Gordon J Tilley