Oahu homes to see small break in bills
OAHU, HAWAII - Oil prices have quickly fallen in recent months, but the electricity bill for Hawaii homeowners remain near its highest levels.
Hawaiian Electric Co. says Oahu homeowners will be getting a slight break on their bills this month.
The typical home, which uses about 600 kilowatt hours, will see their bill drop about 7.4 percent to $182.01 from the $196.52 they were billed in October.
HECO says more cuts could be in order given oil's decline. Most of the electrical generators in Hawaii run on oil.
That should provide some relief for homeowners who have seen their bills rise this year to a peak of 32.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in September. It now stands at 28.9 cents.
Hawaii residents have the highest average statewide electricity rates in the nation, paying almost three times the U.S. average.
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Power grab: 5 arrested after Hydro-Québec busts electricity theft ring
MONTREAL - Five people have been arrested in connection with an electricity theft ring alleged to have operated for five years.
The thefts were allegedly committed by the owners of rental properties who used stolen personal information to create accounts with Hydro-Québec.
The utility alleges that between 2014 and 2019, Mario Brousseau, Simon Brousseau-Ouellette and their accomplices defrauded Hydro-Québec of up to $300,000 worth of electricity. It was impossible for Hydro-Québec’s customer service section to detect the fraud because the information on the accounts, while stolen, was also genuine.
The suspects are expected to face 25 counts of fraud, conspiracy and identity theft.
Hydro-Québec…
