STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3479

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 169
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred
S.C.R. No. 169 entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PUBLIC
     UTILITIES COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON METHODS TO
     FINANCE THE UNDERGROUNDING OF OVERHEAD UTILITY LINES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the
Public Utilities Commission to study methods of financing the
cost of placing utility lines underground.

     Your Committee finds that changes in technology and an
increase in public interest often supports underground placement
of new and existing utility lines.  However, there has been no
clear resolution of who pays for this.  The cost of
undergrounding must be borne by either the utility provider, the
consumers, the State and the counties, or a combination of those
groups.  Other communities on the mainland have successfully
converted existing overhead lines to underground and mandated new
lines to be placed underground.  This concurrent resolution will
assist in the determination of an equitable plan for financing
underground placement of electric transmission lines where it is
found desirable.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3479
                                   Page 2


Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 169,
and recommends its adoption.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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