Bill Text: HI SCR38 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Requesting The Public Utilities Commission To Investigate Measures To Benefit Vulnerable Customers, Such As Low-income And Retired Customers, And Identify Funding Sources To Support Social Policy Objectives That Would Prevent The Shifting Of Costs To Other Ratepayers.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-04-07 - Referred to EEP, FIN, referral sheet 46 [SCR38 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-SCR38-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	38
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE Public Utilities Commission to investigate measures to benefit vulnerable customers, such as low-income and retired customers, and identify funding sources to support social policy objectives that would prevent THE shifting OF costs to other ratepayers.

 

 

     WHEREAS, many low-income utility customers and retired senior citizens live on limited or fixed incomes and face tight budgets, requiring them to limit expenses; and

 

     WHEREAS, the costs of public utilities, including electricity, water, gas, telephone, and telecommunication services, are consistently rising and are difficult to limit or negotiate; and

 

     WHEREAS, the widening gaps between the rising costs of public utility services and low- or fixed incomes of certain customers and retired senior citizens make it increasingly difficult for them to live within their budgets; and

 

     WHEREAS, public utilities charging discounted rates to any one customer group may shift costs to other ratepayers or result in a subsidy that could have unintended consequences, making utility bills even less affordable to vulnerable groups of ratepayers; and

 

     WHEREAS, proactive measures are needed to help low-income customers and retired senior citizen customers maintain a reasonable quality of life despite rising, but necessary, public utility expenses; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to investigate measures to benefit vulnerable customers, such as low-income and retired customers, and identify funding sources to support social policy objectives that would prevent the shifting of costs to other ratepayers; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission.

Report Title: 

Public Utilities; Low-Income and Retired Customers