Oʻahu-Maui Undersea Cable Surfaces for Discussion

Maui water, photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission hosts a public meeting on Maui this week on the proposed Maui to Oʻahu Undersea Cable interisland transmission project to connect the electric grids on the two islands.

The PUC is gathering input as part of its investigation to determine if the Oʻahu-Maui interisland transmission system, or grid-tie, is in the public interest.

State Energy Program Administrator Mark Glick will describe how the Abercrombie administration envisions the need and use of the undersea cable, and its preliminary findings in support of the interconnection project.

Also in attendance will be Jeffery Ono, the executive director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy, who will discuss an independent investigation on behalf of Hawaiʻi’s ratepayers.

According to the PUC announcement, public comment will be accepted on several key issues including project costs, development risks, technological and operational issues, policies regarding regulation and rates, and the preferred path forward should a determination be made that the project is in the public interest.

A Maui meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014 at 6 p.m. at the Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School Cafeteria in Kahului.

A separate meeting is planned for tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m. at Farrington High School on Oʻahu.