Kaua‘i residents paid the highest electricity price in the state during the month of June, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s first-ever energy trends report issued yesterday.

The report states that Kaua‘i residents were charged $0.466 per kilowatt hour in June, compared to $0.297 per kilowatt hour for Honolulu residents.

The statewide average residential rate was $0.333 per kilowatt hour, about 2 cents more than a year ago.

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative tends to have higher rates than other Hawai‘i utilities because the co-op does not burn coal or heavy oils such as bunker fuel, which are cheaper than diesel or naptha.

In addition, Kaua‘i has fewer customers to share the costs of power generation, and the island is still paying for post-Hurricane ‘Iniki infrastructure repairs, Randy Hee, KIUC president and chief executive, said yesterday.

The actual KIUC residential effective rate in June was slightly lower than reported by the state, at $0.439 per kilowatt hour. In July rates increased to $0.471, followed by another jump in August to $0.492, the highest on record.

Hee said at the co-op’s monthly board meeting last week that rates should decline in September due to a drop in fuel costs.

The energy trends report, to be published monthly, will provide a regular look at energy and oil prices, as well as consumption as the state moves toward its clean energy goals.

“As the most oil-dependent state in the U.S., Hawai‘i is facing a great challenge in dealing with rising energy prices,” DBEDT Director Theodore E. Liu said. “The monthly energy data will help policymakers and the general public monitor and understand the demand and supply side of our energy. By continuing to track the data into the future, we can see how well we are progressing toward the 70 percent renewable energy target by 2030.”

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(Source: Kauai Garden Island News)