Conservation a good defense against rising electric bills

"All consumers can do is conserve,...."

I have to disagree. the best defense against rising electric bills is to get off the grid entirely. not just conserve.

when HECO starts to loose customers in their entirety because they have a way to provide for themselves... then HECO will get serious about alternative energy usage to get the final product cost back down.

Gas is hitting $4 a gallon. today I notice more bicycles on the road than I have in the past several months. exorbitant pricing forces people to become creative in their own provisions.... maybe higher electric prices are ultimately the best thing for us and will get people to start investigating high efficiency solar panels for their houses and apartment buildings.

as I see it, even with my own apartment, there are only 2 real items that suck up the electricity that make it difficult to get off the grid. the refrigerator and the air conditioner. as soon as someone creates low power refrigeration units... most of the general public can drop HECO all together.

There are 60,000 additional housing units projected on the west side over the next 20 years.
Conservation? Hilarious. Shibai.
Oh, don't forget to also take shorter showers.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is the key. The leaders in Hawai`i should undertake an intensive program of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT as the primary mission in all new and restoration projects. The sea and underground water sources could be harnessed to cool and heat buildings. THe waves on the ocean could produce hydro electric power. SEa water could be piped into the towns and villages for grey water, toilet usage.

All homes in Hawaii should have Solar Water Heaters and Photovoltaic power on thier roofs. The rebates need to be increased to make this more affordable for all residential and commercial properties. This would create many jobs. The extra cash saved can be spent elsewhere in the community. We will then be the leaders of the world in sustainable technology.

There should be no more rate increases until our local utility monopolies cut some of the fat in their operating expenses. How long as it been since their top excecutives got raises and/or generous benefit packages that "they" funded by jacking up their rates and putting the screws to their captive market - AGAIN!

And tell me again about how they were going to charge people a fee of some kind if they installed energy saving or energy generating systems that would reduce demand (and the sale of their product).

Lastly, why is it that we have problems with electrical service, but the landline telephone companies (that use electrity) are still providing us with dependible service when the electric grid has crashed?

You know what would really be helpful?

If the newspapers/media would write articles or provide information/advertising gratis for those with alternative ideas because these startups don't have the resources to develop any momentum against the well-financed public relations machines of the powers that be who intend always to remain so, and can afford to pay lavishly for their advertising and good relations with your writers,

Be the solution. It's really about information -- and how we use it, ignore, control, deny or suppress it.

Where are the screams of "excess" profits when HECO is making such big profits? Where is the call for our legislators to do something about that? Why aren't the editorial people like you screaming bloody murder and asking for action, because if they are making so much money, they must be "ripping us off" shouldn't they?

Apparently the increase is to fund a new biofuel plant, which is nothing but a huge scam. It has been proven that the creation and use of biofuels is much WORSE for the environment than burning fossil fuels. What we need to do is drill for our own oil, here in the United States. In addition to that we all need to conserve energy, recycle and push for more fuel efficient automobiles. Enough is enough already - we are held hostage by the oil producing countries who also fund terrorists. It is time we cut them off and become self-sufficient as a nation.

Turning off or cutting back the lights/turning off power strips won't help much, since the base charges on the bill is what gets you. Kilowatts per hour is reasonable,once you look at the monthly charges.
Its the same w/the water bill, if you don't flush as much or take shorter showers, it doesn't matter due to the base charges....just the price to pay in what was once an AFFORDABLE PARADISE.

Outrageous. I deeply resent the fact that the rate increase will be going to pay for a new biofuel-based generation plant (which will cause the destruction of rainforests in Indonesia and other places), when the shockingly obvious solution are more agressive state subsidies for investment in solar PV.(Note: I do not work in the solar energy industry.) Germany has had such a program and it has been a major success -- it also provided a big boost to their economy and solar industry.

This is a total no-brainer. No HECO increase; higher state subsidies for solar, wind, and wave energy investment will eliminate the need for new HECO plants. It will save Hawaii a LOT of money in the medium to long term, and it will give a big boost to local jobs.

I repeat, no-brainer.

Instead of conserving why don't they stop Jade Moon from telling everyone how good they are!

WE DONT HAVE A CHOICE

Stop spending our money to fund Jade Moon and use that to built a power plant!

In a free market, the more electricity one uses, the price should come down. In our regulated utility market, if we conserve, the electric company will raise rates to recover "lost" revenues.
"Renewable" energy sources are on the subsidy gravy train paid for by taxpayers. The only way Hawaiian Electric could reduce electric rates would be to generate power from burning coal. That will never happen.

Whatever wrote:

The only way Hawaiian Electric could reduce electric rates would be to generate power from burning coal. That will never happen.

Nor should it, unless you want to be living below sea level in about 40 years.

The best solution is 1. to provide big subsidies to consumers to get off the grid, and 2. open up the market to other suppliers who provide wave- and wind-generated power. HECO is stuck on an old model.

Oomingmak wrote:

<quoted text>
Nor should it, unless you want to be living below sea level in about 40 years.
The best solution is 1. to provide big subsidies to consumers to get off the grid, and 2. open up the market to other suppliers who provide wave- and wind-generated power. HECO is stuck on an old model.

Just because your god algore won an oscar and nobel, that does not mean that the global warming THEORY is fact.
It is an unproven theory.
Climate change has been happening for thousands of years before Bores movie.
We are in a global cooling period now.
Btw- global warming is caused by the sun.
The sea has raised its level by less than an inch over the last 100 years.
How will it go over the current sea level in less than 40 years?
And if it did, how would you stop the sea level rise of mother nature?
Guess what? You can't stop it even if you tried.
I recycle, conserve energy, ride a bike and use the city bus.
I want solar panels for my whole roof.
What else can one do?
Buy carbon credits from gores fake eco company?
Give me a brake!

Whynot, isn't it amazing how amazingly stupid people can be. To just go on faith everything that is spoon fed to them through the boobtoob. Corporations and Governments will continue to squeeze every last penny they can from the consumer/taxpayer so long as the consumer/taxpayer lets them, eventually they either wisen' up or just live a very painful existence. I hope you get those solar panels and become one step closer to independence.

TheUtopian wrote:

Whynot, isn't it amazing how amazingly stupid people can be. To just go on faith everything that is spoon fed to them through the boobtoob. Corporations and Governments will continue to squeeze every last penny they can from the consumer/taxpayer so long as the consumer/taxpayer lets them, eventually they either wisen' up or just live a very painful existence. I hope you get those solar panels and become one step closer to independence.

Watch it TheUtopian...Anytime someone disagrees with the limousine liberal poster above, he calls them "ignorant" and then gets the moderator to delete the "offending" post. You know how liberals just love free speech...as long as you duck-step with them. OMG! DID I SAY DUCK-STEP? PLEEEEEASE don't mention birdies to him. He'll go on for days about eradicating doggies and kitties to save Mother Earth.=)

Why not conserve? Why should you support the electric company? Conserving is just trying to keep money in your own pocket. Turn off the lights and have a ball!!!!!!!!

TheUtopian wrote:

Whynot, isn't it amazing how amazingly stupid people can be. To just go on faith everything that is spoon fed to them through the boobtoob.

Here's one of my favorites where he actually answers HIS OWN POST acting like he's someone else to justify his Polynesian TROPHY SKULL and Hawaiian feather collection. OH, no! Did I mention Birdies again?

Mark Blackburn wrote:
<quoted text>
You are correct on your facts (I see you love google) as far as collecting objects etc - my love for the Polynesian culture and people is evident with the books and shows I have done - in regards to the feather material this was collected 200 years ago and if wasnt for private collections like ours their wouldnt be museums today - in fact the collection you are talking about someday will end up in a museum or institution - your ignorance is just overwhelming -

Oomingmak wrote:
As a fellow collector (New Guinea shields for me) I think that sounds great, btw. Obviously you're not the type to let the ignorant hot-heads get to you

How weird is this?=)

Corrected Statement wrote:

"All consumers can do is conserve,...."
I have to disagree. the best defense against rising electric bills is to get off the grid entirely. not just conserve.
when HECO starts to loose customers in their entirety because they have a way to provide for themselves... then HECO will get serious about alternative energy usage to get the final product cost back down.
Gas is hitting $4 a gallon. today I notice more bicycles on the road than I have in the past several months. exorbitant pricing forces people to become creative in their own provisions.... maybe higher electric prices are ultimately the best thing for us and will get people to start investigating high efficiency solar panels for their houses and apartment buildings.
as I see it, even with my own apartment, there are only 2 real items that suck up the electricity that make it difficult to get off the grid. the refrigerator and the air conditioner. as soon as someone creates low power refrigeration units... most of the general public can drop HECO all together.

I totally agree!!! I tried conserving but my electric bill keeps climbing. I guess I'll try cold showers.

BirdBrain wrote:

<quoted text>
Here's one of my favorites where he actually answers HIS OWN POST acting like he's someone else to justify his Polynesian TROPHY SKULL and Hawaiian feather collection. OH, no! Did I mention Birdies again? How weird is this?=)

Sorry to disappoint you, but I am not Mr. Blackburn. How many times do I have to say this? Still, it's interesting to note how easily amused you appear to be.