Bill Text: HI HR139 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Resolution 139 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Hawaiian Electric Company; Reduced Rate for Schools

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-14 - Referred to EDN, CPC, referral sheet 28 [HR139 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HR139-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	139
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANy, INc. TO PROVIDE a REDUCED FIXED electricity rate TO all public ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE STATE.

WHEREAS, air conditioning has been cited as the "most critical factor" for optimal learning and the temperature of the classroom clearly affects the attention span and learning capabilities of students; and

WHEREAS, extreme heat can have negative health effects on students and teachers, including dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat rash, and heat stroke, some of which have been confirmed at public schools in the State; and

WHEREAS, studies have shown air conditioning, or lack thereof, contributes to the condition of the school with schools not having air conditioning considered in poorer condition than schools with air conditioning, and schools in poor condition had much lower achievement levels than schools in fair and excellent condition; and

WHEREAS, public schools in the State have struggled with no air conditioning for decades due in large part to high electricity costs that hamper the department of education and school districts' abilities to install air conditioning; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide electricity for all of the public elementary, middle, and high schools on the islands of Hawaii, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu, serving over ninety per cent of public school students in the State; and

WHEREAS, the cost of electricity in the State is outrageous compared to the national average and extremely volatile because of its dependence on international fossil fuel and oil prices; and

WHEREAS, a reduced and fixed electricity rate would provide public schools the ability to predict monthly rates of electrical costs upon installation of air conditioning units in their classrooms; and

WHEREAS, schools deserve immediate relief from the crippling electricity costs holding their students hostage in sweltering heat; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. possess the ability to protect our students through providing electricity for air conditioning at a consistent, reduced and fixed rate; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, that the Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. is requested to determine and provide a reduced, fixed electricity rate to all public elementary and high schools in the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., who in turn are requested to distribute copies to each member of the board of directors of the Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.