Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2837 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to examine the State's energy situation in relation to the State's energy objectives by directing the Auditor to contract with an independent consultant to conduct a comprehensive statewide energy audit.

The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, County of Maui, Life of the Land, Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, and Na Leo Pohai submitted testimony in support of the bill. The Public Utilities Commission and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism supported the intent of the measure. The Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., and Maui Electric Company, Limited, opposed the bill.

Your Committees are cognizant of funding concerns regarding the cost of the statewide audit and the lack of specific reference to the transportation sector in the scope of the audit; however, the audit is imperative to the present economic security of Hawaii.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Consumer Protection and Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2837, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2837, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.