§269-6  General powers and duties.  The public utilities commission shall have the general supervision hereinafter set forth over all public utilities, and shall perform the duties and exercise the powers imposed or conferred upon it by this chapter.  Included among the general powers of the commission is the authority to adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for the purposes of this chapter.

     The chairperson of the commission may appoint a hearings officer, who shall not be subject to chapter 76, to hear and recommend decisions in any proceeding before it other than a proceeding involving the rates or any other matters covered in the tariffs filed by the public utilities.  The hearings officer shall have the power to take testimony, make findings of fact and conclusions of law, and recommend a decision; provided that the findings of act, the conclusions of law, and the recommended decision shall be reviewed and may be approved by the commission after notice to the parties and an opportunity to be heard.  The hearings officer shall have all of the above powers conferred upon the public utilities commission under section 269-10. [L 1913, c 89, §4; RL 1925, §2192; RL 1935, §7944; RL 1945, §4705; am L 1949, c 253, §1; RL 1955, §104-5; HRS §269-6; am L 1976, c 165, §5; am L 1983, c 219, §3; gen ch 1993; am L 2000, c 253, §150]

 

Attorney General Opinions

 

  PUC has authority to approve automatic fuel adjustment clauses.  Att. Gen. Op. 76-1.

 

Case Notes

 

  Constitutional.  33 H. 390, aff'd 96 F.2d 412, aff'd 305 U.S. 306.

  The Public Utilities Commission has the authority to regulate the height of utility poles.  72 H. 285, 814 P.2d 398.

  Cited:  24 H. 136, 139; 32 H. 127, 129.