Bill Text: HI SB1045 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Electric Cooperatives; Waiver; Exemption; Public Utilities Commission; Division of Consumer Advocacy

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-05-01 - Act 057, 4/30/2013 (Gov. Msg. No. 1157). [SB1045 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-SB1045-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1182

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1045

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 1045, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to clarify the regulatory authority of the Public Utilities Commission over electric cooperatives by:

 

     (1)  Directing the Public Utilities Commission and the Division of Consumer Advocacy to specifically consider the ownership structure and interests of an electric cooperative in determining the scope and need for the application of any regulatory measure; and

 

     (2)  Authorizing the Public Utilities Commission to waive or exempt an electric cooperative operating in the State from certain regulatory provisions by the Public Utilities Commission upon a finding that the provisions are inappropriate, unjust, unreasonable, or not in the public interest.

     The Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Public Utilities Commission, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, and Seven Councilmembers of the Kauai County Council testified in support of this measure.  An individual provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the granting of a waiver or exemption to an electric cooperative by the Public Utilities Commission does not affect the right of electric cooperative members or ratepayers to file a complaint with the Public Utilities Commission against an exempted electric cooperative.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1045, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1045, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

		____________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair