HECO customers can apply for financial assistance with utility bills – Hawaii News Now

Report on Financial Assistance for Hawaiian Electric Customers

Introduction: Aligning with Sustainable Development Goals

This report outlines financial assistance programs available to Hawaiian Electric customers experiencing economic hardship. These initiatives directly support several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on ensuring access to essential services as a cornerstone of sustainable and equitable communities.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): Providing relief for utility bills helps prevent households from falling into poverty.
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): The programs ensure continued access to affordable and reliable energy for all residents.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Assistance is targeted at vulnerable populations, addressing economic disparities.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Access to basic services like electricity is fundamental to creating inclusive and resilient communities.

The Hawaii Relief Program: A Response to Economic Hardship (SDG 1 & SDG 10)

In response to the cessation of federal assistance and the potential for increased economic uncertainty, Governor Josh Green announced the establishment of the Hawaii Relief Program. This program serves as a critical social safety net, directly contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by providing direct financial support to households struggling to pay their utility bills.

Implementation and Access: A Multi-Sector Partnership (SDG 17)

The program’s delivery model exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), leveraging a collaboration between state government, the private sector (Hawaiian Electric), and non-profit organizations. This partnership ensures efficient and targeted distribution of aid. Customers can apply for assistance through designated community partners:

• Oahu and Hawaii Island Customers:
  • Organization: Catholic Charities Hawaii
  • Phone: (808) 521-4357 (Press 1, then 1)
  • Email: hrp.mail@catholiccharitieshawaii.org
• Maui, Molokai, and Lanai Customers:
  • Organization: Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.
  • Phone: (808) 243-4357
  • Email: Housing.utility@meoinc.org

Supplementary Measures for Energy Affordability (SDG 7)

In addition to the state-led relief program, Hawaiian Electric has implemented several measures to support customers, directly advancing the objectives of SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). These options provide flexibility and alleviate immediate financial pressure.

1. Interest-Free Installment Plans: For a limited time, customers can arrange to pay their overdue balances in monthly installments without interest. New energy charges must still be paid on time.
2. Waiver of Late Fees: To further reduce the financial burden on customers utilizing payment plans, late fees will be waived.
3. Ohana Energy Gift Program: A donation-based program that allows community members to assist others with their electricity bills.

Community Solidarity and Support Mechanisms

The Ohana Energy Gift Program fosters community solidarity, a key component of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). It provides a structured and secure channel for direct community support.

• A donor selects a gift amount to be applied directly to a recipient’s Hawaiian Electric account.
• Gifts can be made anonymously or with a personalized message.
• The recipient is notified once the gift has been verified and applied to their account.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses a relief program for residents facing financial hardship and struggling to pay their utility bills. This directly connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on poverty, energy access, and reducing inequality.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article’s central theme is providing financial assistance to customers facing “financial hardship” and “economic uncertainty.” The “Hawaii Relief Program” is a direct measure to alleviate the economic burden on households, which is a core objective of SDG 1.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The assistance is specifically for “utility bills” from “Hawaiian Electric.” This relates to ensuring that all people have access to affordable and reliable energy, a key component of SDG 7. The program helps people maintain access to electricity, an essential modern energy service.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  By targeting assistance towards those experiencing “financial hardship,” the program aims to reduce economic inequalities. It provides a safety net to ensure that vulnerable populations are not disproportionately affected by economic shocks, such as a federal government shutdown, and can maintain access to essential services.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  Access to basic services, including electricity, is fundamental to making communities and human settlements inclusive and sustainable. The program helps ensure that residents can continue to access this essential service, contributing to the overall well-being and sustainability of their communities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the programs and issues described in the article, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all.

   The “Hawaii Relief Program,” announced by Governor Josh Green, is a clear example of a social protection system. It is designed to “provide relief for Hawaii residents facing economic uncertainty,” directly aligning with the goal of implementing systems to protect the poor and vulnerable.

2. Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.

   The article focuses on assistance for Hawaiian Electric customers to pay their bills. Programs like the Hawaii Relief Program, interest-free installment plans, and the Ohana Energy Gift Card program are all mechanisms aimed at making electricity more affordable for those in need, thereby helping to ensure continued access to this modern energy service.

3. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status.

   The program promotes economic inclusion by providing a support mechanism for individuals with a lower economic status (“financial hardship”). This prevents them from being excluded from essential services like electricity, which is crucial for participation in modern society and the economy.

4. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.

   Electricity is a fundamental basic service necessary for adequate and safe housing. By helping residents pay their utility bills, the program directly supports this target by ensuring they maintain access to this essential service.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several ways progress could be measured:

• Number of households receiving financial assistance.

  The article states that customers “can apply” for aid through Catholic Charities Hawaii and Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. Tracking the number of applicants and, more importantly, the number of households that successfully receive aid through the “Hawaii Relief Program” would be a direct indicator of the program’s reach and its contribution to social protection (Target 1.3).

• Number of customers utilizing payment arrangement options.

  The article mentions that “Customers can also use HECO’s interest-free monthly installment plans.” The number of customers who enroll in these plans is a measurable indicator of how many people require assistance to afford their energy bills, reflecting progress toward ensuring affordable energy access (Target 7.1).

• Amount of financial aid disbursed.

  The “Ohana Energy Gift Card program” allows a donor to “choose an amount to gift.” The total value of aid disbursed through this program, as well as the main relief program, would serve as a quantitative indicator of the level of support provided to vulnerable households, helping to reduce economic inequality (Target 10.2) and ensure access to basic services (Target 11.1).

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: hawaiinewsnow.com