HONOLULU, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy,
Inc. (NYSE: NEE) and Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HE)
(HEI) today expressed their gratitude to the more than 100 diverse
Hawaii-based organizations that
have publicly endorsed the Hawaiian Electric-NextEra Energy
merger.
Those supporting the proposed merger comprise a diverse
statewide coalition including multiple chambers of commerce, labor
unions, small and large businesses, Native Hawaiian and non-profit
organizations.
"As the regulatory review process comes to a close, we want to
express our deep appreciation for all the support we have received
from so many across the state," said Eric
Gleason, president of NextEra Energy Hawaii. "We are
particularly pleased that such a broad and diverse group of
organizations, including labor and community groups, small and
large businesses, local chambers of commerce and Native Hawaiian
organizations, recognize the many benefits the Hawaiian
Electric-NextEra Energy merger will bring to Hawaii. As we await a decision by the Public
Utilities Commission, NextEra Energy stands ready to be a strong,
long-term energy service provider for Hawaiian Electric's customers
and partner for its communities."
"We thank everyone for participating in a process that is so
important to the future of Hawaii's economy and quality of life and for
supporting this merger as the right path forward to realize the
energy future we all want for Hawaii," said Alan
Oshima, Hawaiian Electric's president and chief executive
officer. "NextEra Energy has the resources and experience to
not only help us reach our clean energy goals, but also to
accelerate the process and deliver long-term cost savings to
customers and businesses. As we said from the outset, NextEra
Energy is the right partner for Hawaiian Electric and the right
partner for Hawaii."
NextEra Energy is a world-class energy company with the
expertise, processes and best practices to partner with Hawaiian
Electric to enhance service, reliability and performance. The
Company has received numerous awards from credible third parties
for its overall performance relative to its national and global
peers, as well as its leadership in areas such as innovation,
ethics and sustainability. NextEra Energy's utility,
Florida Power & Light Company
(FPL), is leading the industry in grid modernization, having
deployed more than 4.8 million smart meters and more than 12,000
intelligent devices throughout its Florida service network.
FPL's smart grid is recognized as one of the most advanced grids in
the nation and one of the most comprehensive, full-scale
deployments of its kind, delivering measurable operational savings
and strong customer benefits, including improvements in efficiency,
reliability and customer service.
NextEra Energy has committed to delivering a total of nearly
$1 billion in customer savings and
economic benefits and to achieving Hawaii's goal of 100 percent renewable energy
by 2045. Together, NextEra Energy and Hawaiian Electric plan to
help achieve this objective by leveraging NextEra Energy's strong
financial profile to invest in Hawaii's electrical grid modernization and
clean energy programs.
NextEra Energy, Inc.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE)
is a leading clean energy company with consolidated revenues of
approximately $17.5 billion,
approximately 46,400 megawatts of generating capacity, which
includes megawatts associated with noncontrolling interests related
to NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP), and approximately
14,300 employees in 27 states and Canada as of year-end 2015. Headquartered in
Juno Beach, Fla., NextEra Energy's
principal subsidiaries are Florida
Power & Light Company, which serves more than 4.8
million customer accounts in Florida and is one of the largest
rate-regulated electric utilities in the
United States, and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which,
together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest
generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. A Fortune 200
company and included in the S&P 100 index, NextEra Energy has
been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in
sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance,
and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas
utilities industry in Fortune's 2016 list of "World's Most Admired
Companies." For more information about NextEra Energy companies,
visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com,
www.NextEraEnergyResources.com
Hawaiian Electric Company
Hawaiian Electric and its
subsidiaries, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light, serve the
islands of O'ahu, Maui, Lāna'i,
Moloka'i and Hawaii, home to 95
percent of the population of Hawaii. Hawaiian Electric's parent company is
Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE: HE), which has been named one
of "America's 100 Most Trustworthy Companies 2015" by Forbes.
In a changing world, the Hawaiian Electric Companies are taking
the lead in adding renewable energy and developing energy solutions
for their customers to achieve a clean energy future for
Hawaii. For more information,
visit www.hawaiianelectric.com.
NextEra Energy Contacts
Robert L. Gould
Vice President, Chief Communications Officer
Debra Larsson
Manager, Financial and Sustainability Communication
561-694-4442
Hawaiian Electric Company Contact
Lynne Unemori
Vice President, Corporate Relations
808-543-7972
Hawaiian Electric Industries Contact
A.J. Halagao
Manager, Corporate & Community Advancement
808-543-5889
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/support-for-proposed-merger-continues-to-grow-as-more-than-100-hawaii-based-organizations-endorse-the-combination-of-hawaiian-electric-and-nextera-energy-300261380.html
SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc.; Hawaiian Electric Industries,
Inc.