154
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.              
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO OPEN A NEW DOCKET
   ON DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT.


 1       WHEREAS, Demand Side Management (DSM) is clearly in the
 2   public interest;  and
 3   
 4       WHEREAS, the Office of the Consumer Advocate web page
 5   states:  "In most instances, it will be less expensive to
 6   implement DSM programs to defer or delay generation additions.
 7   An example of a DSM program is rebates offered by electric
 8   companies to encourage the installation of solar water heating
 9   by residential customers.  By reducing the customers'
10   consumption of electricity generated by the electric utility
11   company, the need for the next generating unit will be
12   deferred";  and
13   
14       WHEREAS, the Department of Business, Economic Development
15   and Tourism web page states "DSM programs offer clear benefits
16   to stakeholders...These benefits include reduction of costs to
17   customers, supplying electric services without regulatory
18   risks, pushing new generation capacity further into the future,
19   avoiding the risks of new power plant construction, and
20   reducing environmental impacts";  and
21   
22       WHEREAS, increasing the amount of DSM will lead to enormous
23   savings to the residents of Hawaii;  and
24   
25       WHEREAS, competitive bidding for DSM proposals will lower
26   the cost to implement such programs and lead to innovative
27   solutions for the New Economy;  and
28   
29       WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission is reviewing ways
30   competition can be utilized to reduce costs to consumers;  and
31   
32       WHEREAS, it is anticipated that the Hawaiian Electric
33   Company will cut their DSM program in April 2000;  and
34   
35       WHEREAS, the existing Public Utilities Commission docket on
36   DSM is six years old, which prevents currently concerned
37   individuals and organizations from effectively participating;
38   now, therefore,

 
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                                  H.R. NO.              
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   
 2       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
 3   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
 4   of 2000, that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to
 5   open a new docket on DSM;  and
 6   
 7       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the docket shall analyze
 8   transparent, streamlined ways DSM can be put out for
 9   competitive bidding;  and
10   
11       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission
12   is requested to submit a report on the status of this request
13   and any findings and recommendations to the State Legislature
14   no later than twenty calendar days prior to the convening of
15   the 2001 Regular Session;  and
16   
17       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
18   Resolution be transmitted to the Public Utilities Commission,
19   the Consumer Advocate, Hawaiian Electric Company, Kauai
20   Electric, all independent power producers in the State, Hawaii
21   Renewable Energy Alliance, Life of the Land, and the Sierra
22   Club, Hawaii Chapter.
23 
24 
25 
26                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________