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Posted: Wednesday, January 30th, 2013 9:28 AM HST

Lawmakers urge utilities to focus on consumers

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — State lawmakers and consumer advocates are pushing for Hawai`i's electric utilities to be more committed to consumers and renewable energy. Lawmakers expressed frustration and anger at Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. during a Senate hearing held Tuesday. The corporation supplies 95 percent of Hawai`i's electricity. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports Hawai`i had the highest utility rates in the nation in 2010. Lawmakers say the company needs to do more to immediately decrease costs for consumers. Hawaiian Electric Industries officials say they are committed to cost control and renewable energy. Division of Consumer Advocacy Executive Director Jeffrey Ono says Hawai`i residents are shouldering the cost of compensating Hawaiian Electric Industries executives. Ono is pushing a bill to give the Public Utilities Commission more detailed data about electricity contracts.