Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator instructions) Your first question comes from the line of Tom Wolfe [ph] from Spatu Investment Management [ph]. Please proceed.
Tom Wolfe – Spatu Investment Management
Aloha and thank you for holding the call today. I am wondering if you can tell us if you foresee any detrimental impact upon the tourism business there as a result of the volcanic fog or vog that you are experiencing on some of the islands.
Connie Lau
That doesn't seem to have impacted the tourism count. Actually in some respects, many people are coming to see the volcano and take advantage of this very unique opportunity. We on Oahu of course as the vog has been blown over this way, we have a few days that have been a little muggier than usual, but it really has not had a major impact.
Tom Wolfe – Spatu Investment Management
Okay, thank you very much.
Operator
Your next question comes from the line of Paul Patterson from Glenrock Associates. Please proceed.
Paul Patterson – Glenrock Associates
Good morning guys.
Connie Lau
Hi Paul.
Paul Patterson – Glenrock Associates
First of all, just a small item here, the other interest charges at the utility, what was going on there? I see a decrease pretty substantially.
Tayne Sekimura
Paul, this is Tayne Sekimura on the line, can you hold on a second?
Paul Patterson – Glenrock Associates
Sure. The other question that I wanted to ask you guys about was just in general sort of what the regulatory outlook is in terms of future needs for rate relief and what you guys might be thinking about that, and what we should be expecting in terms of future regulatory activity if any.
Mike May
Paul, I will answer the interest question first and then I will talk will about regulatory.
Tayne Sekimura
Hey Paul, this is Tayne. The variance there is due to lower short-term interest. We had lower commercial paper borrowing balances as well as lower interest rates compared to the prior year.
Paul Patterson – Glenrock Associates
Okay.
Mike May
Paul, with regard to the regulatory scene, as I mentioned in my prepared remarks, we are looking at a capital expansion program of $1.3 billion over the next several years. One might reasonably expect that as we go through that capital investment program that we would be seeking rate relief to seek recovery on that capital program. As far as timing, I think the PUC has been very responsive in terms of timing, and one of the things that I had mentioned is that the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, one of the components of the review there is looking at ways that we might change the regulatory compact. So those things all say to me that there are positive things that are moving forward in terms of the regulatory front.
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