STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1356

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 14
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which
was referred S.C.R. No. 14 entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PUBLIC
     UTILITIES COMMISSION TO SUBMIT LEGISLATION TO PROMOTE
     COMPETITION FOR PROVIDING ELECTRICITY IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Public
Utilities Commission to submit proposed legislation on promoting
competition in the electric utility industry in the State.

     The Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Consumer Advocate,
Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and
Life of the Land presented testimony in support of the measure.
An individual, who was not present, submitted supporting
testimony.  The Hawaiian Electric Company and Kauai Electric
presented testimony in opposition to the measure. 

     Your Committee finds that Docket No. 96-0493, relating to
the feasibility of increasing or promoting competition in the
electric utility industry in the State, is presently pending
before the PUC.  The PUC testified that position statements filed
in October, 1998, indicate that there are many differences
between the parties on this issue.  Therefore, the PUC intends to
hold further proceedings in order to resolve these differences.  

     Your Committee finds that the development of proposed
legislation on promoting competition in the electric utility

 
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industry should await the outcome of the docket.  Accordingly,
your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requesting the PUC to submit a status report on Docket
          No. 96-0493, rather than proposed legislation; and 

     (2)  Making technical amendments. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to
this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose
of S.C.R. No. 14, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached
hereto as S.C.R. No. 14, S.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Commerce and
                                   Consumer Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
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