Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative
| File:Kiuc logo.gif | |
| Company type | Cooperative |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electric Utility |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Headquarters | Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, United States |
Key people | Allan A. Smith, Chairman David Bissell, CEO |
| Products | Electricity |
| Revenue | $184,714,288 (2013) |
Number of employees | 159 |
| Website | www |
Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) is an electric cooperative located on the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi. With 24,000 member-owners represented by a 9-member Board of Directors, it is the only electric cooperative in the state of Hawaii[1]
Energy history
In the 1970s, Kauaʻi burned sugar cane waste to supply most of their electricity.
As of 2008[update], the majority of the Kauaʻi's electricity was produced by importing liquid petroleum, costing $69.3 million in 2006 and $83 million in 2007.[2] By 2011, 92% of KIUC's power came from diesel.[3]
As of 2017, KIUC's fuel mix was 56% fossil fuels, 9% hydroelectric, 12% biomass and 23% solar. KIUC has successfully integrated large-scale solar into its grid so that, during daylight hours on most sunny days, 97 percent or more of its generation comes from renewable sources. KIUC offers $1,000 rebates to residential customers who have solar water heating systems installed on their homes by Energy Wise Participating Contractors. In March 2017, KIUC opened a 13 MW / 52 MWh battery next to the 12 MW Kapaia solar plant[4] for 13.9 c/kWh.[3] A 2018 project for 28 MW solar with 20 MW / 100 MWh batteries is priced at 11¢/kWh.[5]
Corporate history
Kauaʻi Electric was incorporated in 1905 as a subsidiary of McBryde Sugar in order to construct a 2.4 MW hydroelectric plant on the Wainiha River. Kauaʻi Electric merged with Lihue Plantation's Waiahi Electric Company early in the 1950s. Kauaʻi Electric became a division of Citizens Utilities Company in 1969. In the late 1990s, Citizens Utilities announced its intentions to divest from the electric utility business and a group of business leaders from Kauaʻi joined to found the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative in 1999. KIUC purchased Kauaʻi Electric Company on 1 November 2002 for $215 million.[6]
In December 2009, KIUC participated in hearings regarding its plan to minimize the effects its operations have on three endangered Hawaiian birds, the ʻuaʻu, the ʻaʻo, and the band-rumped storm-petrel.[7]
References
- ^ [1] Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative website.
- ^ Flynn, Meghan. Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Energy Today Magazine. September 30, 2008
- ^ a b Wagman, David (16 March 2017). "Tesla Teams With Tiny Hawaiian Utility to Store Solar". IEEE. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
as 2011 we were 92% dependent on fossil fuel generation," primarily diesel and naphtha.
- ^ "Tesla launches its Powerpack 2 project in Hawaii, will help Island of Kauai get more out of its solar power". 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
- ^ "AES' New Kauai Solar-Storage 'Peaker' Shows How Fast Battery Costs Are Falling". 16 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Agrees to Acquire Kauai Electric from Citizens Communications for $215 Million. Business Wire. 6 March 2002.
- ^ State Plans Hearing On Kauai Utility Seabird Plan. KITV. 6 December 2009.
External links
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