Question: My neighbors’ overgrown trees are going to pull down the power lines. I have asked them to trim them back but they ignore me. Is my only option to call the police?
Answer: No, and it may be dangerous for your neighbors to attempt this job themselves. Contact Hawaiian Electric Co.’s Vegetation Management Program to arrange an inspection. Call 543-7836 or email TrimRequest@hawaiianelectric.com.
“For your safety please (contact us) before conducting any kind of work on trees that are near overhead lines. We will inspect the lines and will help determine the best course of action,” Hawaiian Electric says on the program’s website, 808ne.ws/hecoveg.
A 10-foot minimum safety clearance is required when working on trees that are near power lines. “When setting up ladders and other equipment, everything should be secured so that nothing is in or can accidentally enter this safety zone,” the website says.
While it is generally the property owner’s responsibility to hire and pay certified tree trimmers to do the work, HECO can help ensure it is done safely by de-energizing and lowering service lines during pruning.
Damage caused by your neighbors’ trees generally would be their responsibility, too, so they should take care of this before trouble occurs.
If the situation grows urgent, take swift action. Call 1-855-304-1212 if the trees cause a power outage or 911 for a life-threatening emergency.
Q: I received my HECO bill for October and noted an increase of $6.52 per month. My former rate was $19.21 per month and is now $25.73. I phoned HECO and was told that they have increased the base charge. However there was no prior warning or notice of the increase. This added cost amounts to $78.52 per year. Why wasn’t the customer notified of the substantial increase and will there be further additional costs?
A: Hawaiian Electric Co. says customers were informed. “The increase in the minimum bill, which affects mainly customers with private rooftop solar who buy very little electricity from the grid, was approved by the Public Utilities Commission. A schedule of the new rates was provided to customers in a brochure that was mailed with October bills. A story about the rate increase also appeared in the customer newsletter that was sent with October bills,” said Shannon Tangonan, company spokeswoman. “There are no other pending increases for the minimum bill. We would have to go through another rate case to implement any other rate increases.”
The October newsletter (808ne.ws/hecooct) says the base-rate increase approved by the PUC was HECO’s first in six years and took effect on Sept. 1.
Q: Some time ago you mentioned how to look up recent arrests. I clipped the column but misplaced it. Please repeat.
A: Check the Honolulu Police Department’s arrest logs online at 808ne.ws/arrests or in person at the main police station. The online version dates back about two weeks.
Auwe
It’s like people don’t even notice stop signs and red lights anymore. I have encountered so many vehicles rolling through stop signs it’s not even funny. And now they are doing it with the red lights too! They think there’s a little delay before the opposite light turns green so they gun it. This is not safe for other cars or for pedestrians either. Stop! — Frustrated driver
Mahalo
A belated but a very sincere mahalo nui loa to the security guard and the nice lady who helped us when we fell on the front steps of the Blaisdell Concert Hall last month. You were there immediately to aid us, and we deeply appreciated your help and caring concern and wished to inform you that we are both fine now. — Two senior citizens
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
