KIUC Celebrates Accomplishments and Progress at its 24th Annual Meeting

More than 100 community members attended the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) Annual Membership Meeting last night to learn more about the cooperative’s 2025 financial performance, the status of current and future projects, and progress on strategic goals. 

KIUC Board Chair Allan Smith and fellow board members greeted the crowd at the Kaua‘i Philippine Cultural Center, along with President and Chief Executive Officer, David Bissell, Chief Financial Officer Erin Tsuda, and numerous staff. 

During the presentation it was noted that since May 2022 KIUC has posted either the lowest, or among the lowest, residential rates in the State of Hawai’i. At the close of 2025, KIUC reported a net margin of $6.9 million and a healthy equity ratio of 37.58%. Because of the strong financial performance last year, KIUC’s Board of Directors voted to retire $2.7 million in patronage capital back to members for margins earned in 2002, along with portions of 2003 and 2025. 

Kaua‘i reported 52.8% renewable generation for 2025, well ahead of state-mandated benchmarks, with a renewable portfolio that includes both utility-scale and rooftop solar, hydropower, and biomass. KIUC has two additional solar + battery storage projects in development, which are expected to be operational in late 2029. The AES Kaawanui Solar + Storage and AES Mānā Solar + Storage projects are expected to increase renewable generation to near 90% and save members $13.4 million during their first year of operation. 

Other topics covered during the meeting included:

• An update on four projects, including battery storage upgrades at three solar sites, a synchronous condenser generator conversion to provide grid stability, and wildfire safety improvements, which are being subsidized by more than $27 million in federal grant funding. 
• Progress achieved on KIUC’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan, which was approved by the Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission in May; along with an update on an application to establish a wildfire cost recovery mechanism, which was filed with the PUC earlier this month. 
• Status of the second draft Habitat Conservation Plan, which is under review by state and federal regulators, with the potential to obtain a federal permit in early 2027.
• Information on energy efficiency programs, appliance rebates, and community support activities. 

Attendees received a copy of KIUC’s 2025 Annual Report and, per tradition, members received a complimentary bowl of chili and a bag rice. Almost 760 pounds of rice were donated to the Hawaiʻi Food Bank - Kauaʻi and Kauaʻi Independent Food Bank after the event.

KIUC is the only electric cooperative in the State of Hawaiʻi and one of 900 electric cooperatives in the United States, beginning operations in 2002. With over 35,000 member accounts (30,000 residential; 5,000 commercial), KIUC is governed by nine member democratically-elected Board of Directors and has roughly 140 employees.

The full annual meeting presentation can be found here. The 2025 Annual Report “Coming Full Circle” can be found on KIUC’s website at this link.

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Captions: KIUC Board and attendees; KIUC staff greets attendees.