Bill Text: HI HCR41 | 2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Urging The Public Utilities Commission To Open A New Proceeding Relating To The Removal Of Abandoned Or Double Utility Poles, Lines, And Equipment.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-1)
Status: (Passed) 2023-05-04 - Received notice of Agreement and Adoption in House (Hse. Com. No. 898). [HCR41 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2023-HCR41-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
41 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
URGING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO OPEN A NEW PROCEEDING RELATING TO THE REMOVAL OF ABANDONED OR DOUBLE UTILITY POLES, LINES, AND EQUIPMENT.
WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission regulates all chartered, franchised, certificated, and registered public utility companies operating in the State; and
WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission's administrative rules adopted the 2002 edition of the National Electrical Safety Code as it pertains to the installation, operation, and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical supply and communication lines; and
WHEREAS, the 2002 edition of the National Electrical Safety Code states that "[l]ines and equipment permanently abandoned shall be removed or maintained in a safe condition"; and
WHEREAS, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (Hawaiian Electric) is a utility company in the State that provides electric services via lines using wooden poles within existing county and state street rights-of-way to residential communities and businesses; and
WHEREAS, Hawaiian Electric owns over 120,000 utility poles on the island of Oahu; and
WHEREAS, when a new utility pole is installed adjacent to an existing utility pole for the purpose of transferring electric, telephone, cable, or other wires from one pole to another, the original pole is often left in place, resulting in what is referred to as double poles; and
WHEREAS, there are thousands of derelict utility poles, double poles, and utility lines abandoned across Hawaii neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the derelict utility and communication lines, abandoned utility poles, and redundant double poles should be removed in a timely manner due to their growing threat to public safety; and
WHEREAS, the removal of unnecessary and unsightly derelict lines and poles will eliminate potential public hazards, organize communication and utility pole lines, and favorably influence the surrounding community; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the Senate concurring, that the Public Utilities Commission is urged to open a new proceeding relating to the removal of abandoned lines, double poles, and equipment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to submit a status report of the new proceeding to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Commissioners of the Public Utilities Commission and President and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.
PUC; Hawaiian Electric; Abandoned Poles; Utility Poles
