Hawaii regulators investigate rate process for Hawaiian Electric Co. and … – Pacific Business News (Honolulu) (blog)

I don’t think much will come of this investigation.  Important questions will be raised and solutions demanded.  But, in the long run, not much will be done because Hawaii’s energy prices are tied to the unpredictability of the oil market.  Although Hawaii’s power providers are getting more energy from alternative sources, those renewable sources are not price competitive with imported petroleum products.  Until recently, the cost of renewable energy sources was pegged to the price of oil. No matter what happens, the cost of energy will keep increasing.  Now that the Tesoro refinery on Oahu is on the selling block, who knows what will happen to our fuel supply.  One of these days, I’ll have to refurbish my mountain bike…I may need it to get to my various appointments.  Aloha, Russ.