PUC water rate hikes finalized; it’s been a long fight — Tavares

Molokai Properties says it will break even, operate indefinitely

The Public Utilities Commission has finalized the water rate hikes it had previously imposed on many Molokai residents at the request of Molokai Properties Ltd., which company officials have said will allow them to break even and operate indefinitely.

More than a year in the making, the new approved rate affects hundreds of homes, mostly on the west side of Molokai. The increase is 126.5 percent of what people were paying as recently as June for Molokai Public Utilities water.

"It's been a long fight for the people of Molokai," said Mayor Charmaine Tavares. "The county was able to keep the rates from being as high as what Molokai Public Utilities wanted, but for the Molokai customers that will be affected by the state PUC's decision, it's still a difficult situation. We will to continue to fight on their behalf."

Molokai residents have railed and rallied against the hikes, which are expected to generate an additional $548,682 annually for the private utility. But many residents said it will chew into what money they have and could mean hundreds of extra dollars a month added to the average water bill.

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