THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            169
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A STUDY
    ON METHODS TO FINANCE THE UNDERGROUNDING OF OVERHEAD
    UTILITY LINES.


 1        WHEREAS, there is increasing community interest in the
 2   placement of existing and proposed overhead utility lines
 3   underground for a variety of reasons including, but not limited
 4   to, public health concerns related to electric and magnetic
 5   field (EMF) exposure, public safety concerns related to
 6   windstorm, debris, and traffic collision damage risks,
 7   expectations of greater systems reliability and reduced
 8   maintenance needs, and the desire to preserve, protect, and
 9   enhance viewplanes and scenic resources for residents,
10   visitors, and filmgoers worldwide; and
11   
12        WHEREAS, the recovery of Kauai following Hurricane Iniki
13   was slowed in part due to downed utility lines and poles; and
14   
15        WHEREAS, there are many communities within, as well as
16   outside, the State that have successfully converted from
17   overhead to underground utility facilities; and
18   
19        WHEREAS, if the State chooses as a matter of policy to
20   require the undergrounding of utility lines when feasible, the
21   costs of undergrounding would have to be borne by either the
22   utility provider, the consumers, the State and various
23   counties, or a combination of the three; now, therefore,
24   
25        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
26   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, the House of
27   Representatives concurring, that the Public Utilities
28   Commission is requested to conduct a study on the alternatives
29   available to finance the cost of undergrounding of overhead
30   utility lines; and
31   
32        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities
33   Commission, in conducting the study consult with appropriate
34   government and private entities, including but not limited to,
35   the Legislative Reference Bureau, the State Departments of

 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            169
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   Transportation, Taxation, and Business and Economic Development
 2   and Tourism, the State Consumer Advocate; the county
 3   governments, Hawaiian Electric Company, the Kauai Electric
 4   Company, GTE Hawaiian Telephone Company, and Oceanic
 5   Cablevision; and
 6   
 7        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities
 8   Commission submit its findings and recommendations to the
 9   Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of
10   the Regular Session of 2000; and
11   
12        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
13   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the the Public
14   Utilities Commission, the Legislative Reference Bureau, the
15   State Departments of Transportation, Taxation, and Business and
16   Economic Development and Tourism, the State Consumer Advocate,
17   the county governments, Hawaiian Electric Company, the Kauai
18   Electric Company, GTE Hawaiian Telephone Company, and Oceanic
19   Cablevision.
20 
21 
22 
23                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________