HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Restaurants like those at Kuhio Food Hall at the International Market Place are feeling the heat. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You "It's a significant gut punch having that big of a rate increase all at once," said Mike Palmer, Owner and Managing Partner at Kuhio Food Hall. Palmer, is reacting to the Hawaii Gas rate hike request. Hawaii Gas is looking at a statewide rate increase, with Oahu shouldering the biggest increase at 19.42% "It is concerning, I mean, we're used to having so many price increases, you know we had the minimum wage increase, the cost of goods has gone up a lot, so this is just another one hitting everyone," said Palmer. Hawaii Gas filed for the increase last year, saying it's the first time in seven years and is needed to pay for infrastructure improvements and rising operating costs. Hawaii Gas said if rates are approved, the average residential customer would see a bill increase of about $14 a month. Oahu customers will pay more because the utility system is more expensive on Oahu than neighbor islands. Two vehicles crash into buildings in separate Oahu incidents Meanwhile, Hawaii American Water, which serves parts of Oahu and Hawaii Island, is seeking approval on water rate hikes, citing the need to pay for $41 million in wastewater infrastructure upgrades. If approved, Oahu customers would see a monthly increase of about $9. Young Brothers just filed a request for an average 20% increase in shipping costs. The state's consumer advocate said the timing of all these rate hikes seemingly at the same time, are not surprising. "A lot of utilities are coming in, just generally, post-covid because of concern over lost revenues. Our office's role is to review their justifications for those requests and make sure they're reasonable," explained Michael Angelo, Executive Director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy. Angelo said the division's recommendations on rate increases have a significant role on the Public Utilities Commission decision, who has the final say. Customers are encouraged to attend a public hearing on Friday, October 25. "So whatever we can do to help understand the impacts on customers to make sure that any utility requests are supported and push rates down where reasonable, that's our role in the process," said Angelo. Mike Palmer is bracing for the impact. Do not scan the wrong QR code, BBB warns "We have to adapt and unfortunately, inevitably, you know prices have to be raised to ffset that. You know, we can't just keep eating all these costs increases," said Palmer. In a statement, the Division of Consumer Advocacy said it will be evaluating the reasonableness of Young Brothers' proposed rate increases for its interisland transportation services over the next several months and assessing their impacts on customers. Public hearings on the rate increases are projected to be held in January 2025. Hawaii Gas Rate Case Public Hearing Friday, October 25, 2024 5:30pm In Person: PUC Hearing Room, 465 S. King Street, Room 103, Honolulu Online: Link: https://hpuc.my.webex.com/hpuc.my/j.php?MTID=m2255b735ff7ed8a6805558617a364302 Meeting Number: 2558 610 7635Meeting Password: 2PqUvJS7hg3 TelephoneDial-in Number: +1-650-479-3208Access Code: 2558 610 7635 Hawaii American Water Rate Case Public Hearing Friday, October 25, 2024 5:45pm In Person: PUC Hearing Room, 465 S. King Street, Room 103, Honolulu Online: Link: https://hpuc.my.webex.com/hpuc.my/j.php?MTID=m2255b735ff7ed8a6805558617a364302 Meeting Number: 2558 610 7635Meeting Password: 2PqUvJS7hg3 Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news TelephoneDial-in Number: +1-650-479-3208Access Code: 2558 610 7635