Press Release from Kaua’i, Hawaii

Formal Complaint upheld, KIUC ordered by PUC to answer

On June 18, 2012 Mark Naea filed a Formal Complaint with the Public Utilities Commission and the Division of Consumer Advocacy charging Kauai Island Utility Cooperative( KIUC ) with discrimination.

For the complete PUC Order documents, click here: PUC Order No. 30519

Today the PUC has recognized the validity and standing of Mark’s Formal Complaint, finding that

“. . . the complaint appears to substantially comply with the requirements of HAR Title 6, Chapter 61, Subchapter 5 of the commission’s Rules of Practice.”

The PUC has therefore ordered KIUC to file an answer to the complaint.

In the Matter of

MARK NAEA, Complainant

vs.

KAUAI ISLAND UTILITY COOPERATIVE, Respondent

DOCKET NO. 2012 – 0159

ORDER NO. 30519

DIRECTING RESPONDENT TO FILE AN ANSWER TO COMPLAINANT’S FORMAL COMPLAINT

By this Order, the commission directs Respondent KAUAI ISLAND UTILITY COOPERATIVE (“Respondent” or “KIUC”) to file an answer to the formal complaint filed by Complainant MARK NAEA ( “Complainant “), attached as Exhibit A, within 20 days after the date of service of this order.

The order is dated July 11, 2012. The PUC has ordered KIUC to file an answer to the complaint with them.

By recognizing the legitimacy and legal issues of discrimination brought forth within the complaint, the PUC has upheld the rights of Kauai’s citizens.

With this order in place, KIUC can no longer hide behind semantics or their so-called deferral form. The precedent that this case represents goes far beyond the shores of Kauai.

For the complete PUC Order documents, click here: PUC Order No. 30519