I am completely satisfied with the power supplied by Kauai Independent Utility Coop.  They did make a mistake when they deployed wireless smart meters rather than a fiber optic grid, but I cannot fault them for that decision.  I'm sure they thought it would be for the best.

However, now that Charter Cable is merging with Time Warner (Oceanic) to become Spectrum, there will be yet another "utility" in the hands of private enterprise which will impose "the vig" on services we do need to "recover costs" for services we don't need.

We were in Honolulu for the Democratic Convention over the weekend and so for the first time in years were able to see the cable offerings.  Channel after channel of mind-bending stupidity.  Time Warner was wise to exit this "buggy-whip" business.

Consumers must rally behind co-op movements such as Hawaii Island Energy Co-op and lobby hard for deployment of a fiber-optic smart grid.  Cheaper energy and better internet access will benefit all consumers.