Now on the Hot Seat: HECO’s executive vice president Robbie Alm
January 7th, 2009 by Jeanne Mariani-BeldingWeeks after the latest islandwide blackout, readers continue to raise questions about what happened, and what can be done to prevent future outages. Joining us for the next hour to answer your questions on the blackout and Hawaii’s energy issues is HECO’s executive vice president Robbie Alm. HECO’s preliminary findings are due out this week, with lightning expected to be cited as the cause of the major power outage.
We’ve got an hour, so please keep your questions concise and on point so that we can get to as many of them as possible; and please keep it civil, no personal attacks.
Shall we start? Just click the “comments” button below and post your question.
Tags: Alm, blackout, energy, HECO, Mariani-Belding
January 7th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Aloha, and thanks for joining us. To get things rolling, here’s a question sent earlier from Ruth:
Why is it taking so long to come out with the cause of the blackout? What’s the process, it seems obvious?
January 7th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
I know that during the blackout some homes with solar panels were still generating power. Is there any push from HECO to get more homes fitted with solar panels?
January 7th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
First, let me say: • All of us at Hawaiian Electric regret the considerable inconvenience our customers had to endure during the island-wide power outage. We know it was frustrating and we sincerely appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.
As to Ruth's question about why it has taken so long to determine the cause. On one level, we believe that lightning was the cause of a series of events that led to an island-wide outage. On another level, we need to determine how that lighting impacted the system the way it did. That will take some time.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Here’s another one sent in from Bruce: What determines which areas of the island get their power back first? It seems most of the generators are on the west side. Should there be other in other areas?
January 7th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Ladyluck:
January 7th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
I know that during the blackout some homes with solar panels were still generating power. Is there any push from HECO to get more homes fitted with solar panels?
-- ---
Absolutely. Folks with solar panels or folks with PV syst4ems were better of f than those who did not have them. And, yes, Hawaiian Electric is aggressively encouraging programs to support solar roofs and photovotaics.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Operating plants normally have backup systems that activate when the primary one goes down, what happened to HECO's? Did their steam operated pumps go down at the same time as their electric pumps?
January 7th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
January 7th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Here’s another one sent in from Bruce: What determines which areas of the island get their power back first? It seems most of the generators are on the west side. Should there be other in other areas?
- - - - -
The areas that get power back first are those nearest to the power plants as we energize the system to reach out across the island. Most generating plants at this point at this point are located on the west side because this area where they can get permits to be built. .
It addition the plants need to be close to the ocean for cooling water used at the plants and close to fuel supply facilities.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Aloha, what's the difference between solar and photovoltaic? Which is more beneficial to the environment and consumers?
January 7th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Here’s one sent via e-mail from Keith:
I can’t be there at noon. Please post this question for Mr. Alm: I have to say I am upset these full blackouts keep happening to the degree they do. I feel that we are over a barrel with one power company. I support having some competition in this market, what are your comments?
January 7th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
My fridge did not operate once power was restored. I'd like to submit for reimbursement but I understand that those who submitted from the earthquake outage still are under consideration. Why the long delay and will it be ever resolved?
January 7th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Hi Mr. Alm,
Whats HECO's business interest in renewable energy (besides the obvious reason of helping the environment)? Won't this be decreasing demand? You are a for profit business... I don't get it.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Nanakuli Bill:
January 7th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Operating plants normally have backup systems that activate when the primary one goes down, what happened to HECO’s? Did their steam operated pumps go down at the same time as their electric pumps?
=======
Bill, the Oahu plants’ do have back up systems but they operate differently from many of those in other areas of the country. The larger issue of how our system operated under the circumstances of that evening are what our detail review is examining.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Lisa:
January 7th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Aloha, what’s the difference between solar and photovoltaic? Which is more beneficial to the environment and consumers?
- - - - - - - -
When we talk about solar water heating we are talking about panels on the roof that directly heat water but do not create electricity. They use sun power instead of electricity to heat water. PV systems use the sun to actually create electricity for use at that home or business. Both are beneficial to the environment and our customers.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Now that you have a new CEO, what is HECO's agenda for the next year or two?
January 7th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Are there any plans in making any new power plants, like on the windward side? It seems like the 3 plants have a hard time generating enough electricty for the island. Also, can't there be some way to prevent the other plants from going down if one of them shuts down?
January 7th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
From Keith:
I have to say I am upset these full blackouts keep happening to the degree they do. I feel that we are over a barrel with one power company. I support having some competition in this market, what are your comments?
- - - - -- -
Again we sympathize with all our customers who had to endure this outage. . We do have competition in who generates that power that goes through the grid. Over 40 percent of the power on Oahu is generated by independent companies, not Hawaiian Electric. And, people can generate their own power on site. Overall, electrical systems throughout the United States and the world operate on a common grid.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Why build a new power plant, is that still the plan? Let's focus on
renewables?
What's the status on these wind power project, and how is HECO involved?
January 7th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Cheryl Y.:
January 7th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
My fridge did not operate once power was restored. I’d like to submit for reimbursement but I understand that those who submitted from the earthquake outage still are under consideration. Why the long delay and will it be ever resolved?
- - - - - -
The Public Utility Commission decision on the earthquake outage was received in December. Responses to the claims will go out shortly based on our review of that decision. If you want to file a claim for this outage, you can download a form at heco.com or by calling 543-4624.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
January 7th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Hi Mr. Alm,
Whats HECO’s business interest in renewable energy (besides the obvious reason of helping the environment)? Won’t this be decreasing d---demand? You are a for profit business… I don’t get it.
- - - - - - -
Renewable energy just like other forms of energy is purchased by Hawaiian Electric and then distributed to our customers. It is as good a business and better from a price standpoint (for us and for our customers) to buy renewable than to buy fossil fuel based electricity. And, of course, renewables are better for the environment.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Despite the Blackout the billing practices of HECO are out moded and anti consumer protection. Even if the meters that record residential usgae are old and outdated nothing is done to replace them or give the benfit to the users who try every way to coserve thier usage. The meters just record whatever was at the whim of the reader and the consumers are left with high payments which discourage them from ever trying to conserve power. Will the outage hours be deducted from the normal billing?
January 7th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
George:
January 7th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Now that you have a new CEO, what is HECO’s agenda for the next year or two?
- - - - - -
In October, Hawaiian Electric signed the Hawaii Clean Energy agreement with the Governor and the Consume Advocate and DBEDT. It committed our company to a renewable and energy efficient future for our customers and ourselves. Our new CEO, Dick Rosenblum, in his first message to all employees confirmed his total commitment to that agreement and that future.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
With the economy the way it is, people are having a hard time. Do you have
any programs in place to aid customers who can't pay their electric bill?
Also, any chance of a rate reduction to ease strained pocketbooks. As
someone who just lost a job, I thought I'd ask.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
John:
January 7th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Are there any plans in making any new power plants, like on the windward side? It seems like the 3 plants have a hard time generating enough electricty for the island. Also, can’t there be some way to prevent the other plants from going ---down if one of them shuts down?
- - - - --
As mentioned in our response to Bruce, future power plants will continue to be sited in the West Oahu/Campbell Industrial Park area for permitting reasons. The issue of how units are impacted and what can be done to change that, if anything, is part of what our ongoing review is looking at.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Peter:
January 7th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Why build a new power plant, is that still the plan? Let’s focus on
renewables?
What’s the status on these wind power project, and how is HECO involved?
- - - - - -
The new power plant will use renewable biofuels and because of its design will actually be able to help us in situations like the one we faced on Friday, December 26. We agree that the focus should be entirely on renewables and have committed to never building another fossil fuel power plant. On the wind power projects we are hopeful that we will see at least one and maybe more wind projects on Oahu and we are working to facilitate wind power coming to Oahu from Lanai and/or Molokai.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Meheroo Jussawalla:
January 7th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Despite the Blackout the billing practices of HECO are out moded and anti consumer protection. Even if the meters that record residential usage are old and outdated nothing is done to replace them or give the benefit to the users who try every way to coserve thier usage. The meters just record whatever was at the whim of the reader and the consumers are left with high payments which discourage them from ever trying to conserve power. Will the outage hours be deducted from the normal billing?
- - - - -
Hello, Meheroo!!
Customers are not billed for hours they are without electricity. We only bill for power actually used.
On the new meters, great question. One, any meter being installed today is a smart meter. Second, we have gone to the Public Utilities Commission to get approval to switch all of our customers to smart meters. We agree absolutely that this is the way to go and we look forward to the customer choice this will provide.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
I think HECO does its best to get power back up during a blackout. I’m wondering once the windfarms are up and running what kind of impact will they have if there is a blackout? Will they be able to generate enough power for at least part of Oahu?
January 7th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
1. JasonK:
January 7th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
With the economy the way it is, people are having a hard time. Do you have
any programs in place to aid customers who can’t pay their electric bill?
Also, any chance of a rate reduction to ease strained pocketbooks. As
someone who just lost a job, I thought I’d ask.
- - - - -
Jason, we really do understand the situation that many of our customers find themselves in. We have heard the stories and understand the challenges of our current economy. Our efforts have focused heavily on efforts to help our customers reduce their bills by reducing their use of electricity. Rebates for compact fluorescent bulbs, solar water heaters, energy star appliances are part of our efforts.
We are also going to be looking at what are called life line rates for people who simply can not afford to pay their bills. Our application is due to the PUC this spring.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Jo:
January 7th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
I think HECO does its best to get power back up during a blackout. I’m wondering once the windfarms are up and running what kind of impact will they have if there is a blackout? Will they be able to generate enough power for at least part of Oahu?
- - - -
The short answer is that it would probably not have helped much, but diversifying our power sources with more renewables is always a good idea.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
We’re out of time. Thanks to everyone who participated in today’s Hot Seat. Special thanks, of course, to our Hot Seat guest, Robbie Alm, HECO’s executive vice president.
Be sure to watch for excerpts of this community conversation in this week’s Sunday Focus section of The Advertiser.
Stay tuned to see who our next guest will be. And if you have suggestions on who you want to see on the Hot Seat, e-mail me at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser.com
Aloha!
January 7th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Thanks very much for the chance to answer these good questions. It is important to understand what our customers' concerns and questions are. Again, we regret what occurred with the outage and will work to learn everything we can from what happened.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Good conversation! Thanks!
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