#Public Utilities Commission

The Public Utilities Commission has approved Hawaiian Electric’s expanded Wildfire Safety Strategy, which calls for deploying new technology, fortifying infrastructure, minimizing fire hazards and expanding community partnerships to significantly reduce the risk of a wildfire started by utility equipment.

The Public Utilities Commission today approved Hawaiian Electric’s 2025-2027 Wildfire Mitigation Plan and completed a comprehensive study on whether to establish a wildfire recovery fund.

The Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources has accepted a final environmental impact statement for Kaheawa Wind Power LLC’s application to keep its 20 wind-power generators operating above Māʻalaea for another two decades. In November, the operator of Maui’s oldest wind farm completed a final environmental impact statement as part of its request for a 25-year […]

The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission has unanimously approved a 25.75% rate increase for Young Brothers LLC, effective Jan. 1, 2026. In its approval, the PUC cited YB’s escalating financial instability and the overriding public interest in avoiding an abrupt loss of the regulated intraisland shipping services YB provides.

The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission is holding evidentiary hearings from Sept. 29 through Oct. 3 on Young Brothers’ proposals to reset customer rates and establish a new mechanism for annual rate adjustments based on inflation. The proposal is aimed at achieving financial stability.

A recent blog post by faculty member Colin Moore and data scientist Trey Gordner of the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization takes a data-driven look at how political forces shape legislation at the state Capitol.

The inter island freight company, Young Brothers, LLC, has announced a leadership transition. Jeremiah “Jay” Ana is stepping down as President after leading the company since 2020 and will assume an advisory role through the end of the year to support a seamless transition. Frank Almaraz has been appointed Interim President.

In May, 15 goats were set up in within a fenced 1-acre area of Upcountry Maui and cleared the vegetation within eight days.

More than half of the funds will be spent in Maui County, including a pilot project for undergrounding in Lahaina, AI-assisted hazard cameras and hazard tree removals.

A resurgent construction industry in Hawaiʻi is building the state’s economy, even as tourism falters, and offers hope of boosting Maui’s recovery from the devastating August 2023 wildfires. This optimistic outlook comes from the Hawaiʻi state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s recent second-quarter statistical and economic report. “The growth in the construction industry […]

As opposition mounts to its proposed inter-island shipping rate increases, Young Brothers maintains its financial position has become even more precarious and continues to deteriorate since it originally filed its request for rate relief in October. Earlier this month, the company double-downed on its rate hike request after the Hawaiʻi Consumer Advocate filed a protest […]

Maui residents who’ve been finding their wallets lighter after paying for groceries now have a report from LendingTree.com to help check out their pain, and the good news is that island residents don’t live in Utah. A new analysis by LendingTree shows that Hawaiʻi residents are among those paying the most for groceries nationwide. Locals […]

The Upcountry Energy Resilience Project will host a virtual event titled “PUC 101: Public Utilities Commission + the Energy Equity Docket” on Friday, April 11 at 9 a.m.

The State of Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission is holding hearings around the neighbor islands where the public can weigh in on a proposed temporary rate increase and tariff changes by the shipping company Young Brothers.

Two state House committees have decided to defer action on a Senate bill that would, among other things, require private and public property owners to trim grass within certain proximities of public rights of way and utility lines.

The Hawaiʻi Senate Committee on Health and Human Services deferred action today on a bill to improve health insurance coverage for women with an above-average risk for breast cancer. The committee rescheduled its hearing to 1 p.m. Jan. 29.

Hawaiian Electric plans to deploy new technology, fortify infrastructure, minimize fire hazards and expand community partnerships to significantly reduce the risk of a wildfire started by its equipment, actions detailed in a new Wildfire Safety Strategy.

The Public Utilities Commission has begun a series of public hearings regarding Hawai‘i Gas’ application for rate increases, revised rate schedules and rules across all its service territories throughout the state.  

Hawaiian Electric’s presentation will include information on general timing and cost components for various Maui projects and programs including: the planned Kahului Power Plant closure, proposed Mā‘alaea Power Plant unit retirements, status of new generation projects, current reserve margins, future infrastructure and reliability improvements, and Hawaiian Electric’s Public Safety Power Shutoff changes.

The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing July 8 on the rate application by Hawaiʻi Water Service Company Inc.