Hawaii Water Service has received approval to purchase two water and waste treatment companies that supply homes, hotels and other properties in West Maui.
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved Hawaii Water Service earlier this month to acquire the Kapalua Water and Kapalua Waste Treatment assets from Maui Land and Pineapple Co. This emerges from a press release.
Hawaii Water, a subsidiary of the California Water Service Group, will supply around 1,000 connections in the Kapalua resort area with water and sewage, the company announced. The utility systems serve homes, hotels, condominiums, golf courses, restaurants, and other resort amenities. Hawaii Water will also serve the Kapalua expansion areas developed by ML&P.
“We appreciate the diligence of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission in reviewing and approving this agreement and look forward to working with Maui Land and Pineapple Co. to complete this transaction.” said Martin A. Kropelnicki, group president and CEO of California Water Service Group. “We also look forward to delivering the same quality, service, and value that all of our Hawaii Water customers expect and deserve from ML&P Kapalua customers.”
Yvonne Kingman, a spokeswoman for California Water Service, said she could not disclose the purchase price, but added that upgrades will be made to the Kapalua systems over the next several years.
The state department for consumer representation announced in an email on Tuesday that the PUC had issued a protection order in August at the request of the applicant, with which the purchase price for Kapalua Water and Kapalua Waste Treatment would be kept confidential.
However, the consumer attorney who reviewed the acquisition information came to the conclusion “That the proposed purchase price was reasonable and in the public interest.”
Upgrades to the system include purchasing a portable generator to keep the systems running in the event of a power failure, upgrading the ladder of an existing tank for employee safety, replacing valves and pumps for a lift station in the sewer system, as well as the Replacement of pressure relief valves in the water system and replacement of height relief valves in the water system.
The sale does not include the Honokohau trench system, which is not part of the Maui Land & Pine PUC regulated assets.
Hawaii Water employs approximately 50 people and currently provides water, sewer and / or recycled water supply services to 5,000 customers, including large resorts and condominium complexes in Kaanapali and Pukalani, and Kapolei on Oahu and in the communities of Waikoloa, North Kona Coast and United States Kohala coast on Hawaii island.
The California Water Service Group also has wholly-owned subsidiaries in California, Washington State, and New Mexico.
* Melissa Tanji can be reached at [email protected].
Get the latest news and more in your inbox
Comments are closed.