PART VII.  PUBLIC BENEFITS FEE

 

Note

 

  Part heading amended by L 2008, c 118, pt of §2.

 

     §269-121  Public benefits fee authorization.  (a)  The public utilities commission, by order or rule, may require that all or a portion of the moneys collected by Hawaii's electric utilities from its ratepayers through a demand-side management surcharge be transferred to a third-party administrator contracted by the public utilities commission.  The moneys transferred shall be known as the public benefits fee.

     (b)  The public benefits fee shall be used to support energy-efficiency and demand-side management programs and services, subject to the review and approval of the public utilities commission.  These moneys shall not be available to meet any current or past general obligations of the State; provided that the State may participate in any energy-efficiency or demand-side management programs and services on the same basis as any other electric consumer.

     (c)  Nothing in this section shall create or be construed to cause the public benefits fee to be considered state or public moneys subject to appropriation by the legislature or be required to be deposited into the state treasury. [L 2006, c 162, pt of §1; am L 2008, c 118, pt of §2]