NEM credits not a gain to HECO

Two recent letters to the editor incorrectly suggested Hawaiian Electric Co. benefits financially from customers’ excess net energy metering (NEM) credits ("HECO keeps profits from rooftop PV," March 31; "Don’t buy too many rooftop solar panels," April 6).

Hawaiian Electric does not profit from NEM credits, but our customers actually benefit in two ways.

Individual customers receive credit at the full "retail" electric rate for excess electricity when they send it to the grid and then use the credit to pay for electricity when their panels aren’t producing.

When individual customers don’t use all of their credits, the benefit of those excess credits goes to all customers and reduces everyone’s electric bill.

The NEM law states that net energy metering is "intended primarily to offset part or all of a customer’s own electrical requirements." Ideally, customers should match the size of their systems to their electricity use. Right-sizing helps make more capacity available to neighbors who may want to install solar as well.

Carlos Perez
Customer solutions manager, Hawaiian Electric Co.

Questions were unanswered

Regarding Mufi Hannemann’s three questions ("State can’t afford to buy Alii Place," Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 9), I certainly remember Hannemann’s three questions:Do we need it?Can we afford it? Can we maintain it?

I posed those questions to him in connection with the rail and rather than respond, he abruptly turned around and walked away.

Steve Vidinha
Kaneohe

Motorists ignore the laws as well

Recent anti-bike letters mistakenly suggest that bicyclists aren’t allowed to ride on sidewalks anywhere. There’s anger that bicyclists aren’t following the law.

Yet, there’s little or no anger expressed when law-abiding cyclists are killed or injured by careless drivers. This is far too common and virtually never the other way around. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve seen drivers fail to stop at the stop sign in front of our apartment, I’d be a millionaire.

Although legal, drivers (myself included) wouldn’t want me jamming up an entire lane riding down Kapahulu Avenue at 15 mph. While cycling, I don’t inconvenience cars. I’ve never been a militant or confrontational cyclist and I hope for the same respect from cars.

Mahalo to public officials, the Hawaii Bicycling League and those who drive with aloha for their efforts to make Honolulu more bike friendly and for truly making my family’s life a lot safer and more fun.

Daniel Laraway
Kaimuki

Gays want what businesses offer

Carol White claimed that gays are upset because bakeries, photographers and pizzerias are "declining to participate in same-sex weddings" ("Gay rights laws highly ironic," Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 8).

White needs to realize that same-sex couples are not asking the owners of those businesses to be part of their weddings.They are, however, asking for them to provide the services that they claim to offer.

We are not asking for them to do anything other than what they have entered into the business community to offer. Maybe she can tell me why she seems to support apartheid in the business world. Are we going to head back to "colored only" drinking fountains?

Larry Cross
Waikiki

Kuhio Avenue already crowded

John Baessler’s concept for improving Waikiki substitutes chaos for order ("Make better use of Kalakaua Avenue," Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 7).

Channeling cars to Kuhio Avenue’s "underutilized" side streets would only displace what little concrete is left. The construction forays by Ritz-Carlton, Ohana West and the International Market Place have already turned Kuhio Avenue into carbon monoxide alley. Residents and tourists want an expanded beachfront, not a peninsula of Kapiolani Park.

Waikiki is beautiful. When we consider its care, let’s take a more holistic approach.

Bill Lofquist
Waikiki