Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.R. No. 105 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to establish the Power Quality Task Force (task force) to study power quality issues.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Division of Consumer Advocacy, Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, Life of the Land, Kauai Electric, and an individual. Comments were submitted by the PUC.

This measure concerns electric power generation, delivery, responsibility, and quality, issues about which the general public and legislators are largely unsure. This measure is intended to help the electric power companies and alternative energy companies to plan for the future by studying the present system of electric power with a view towards evaluating the system and improving the quality of power to meet future needs of the State, and to respond to consumer complaints. The PUC would file interim reports to the Legislature prior to the 2003 and 2004 Regular Sessions and a final report prior to the 2005 Regular Session.

Your Committee has amended this measure to add a representative to the task force from each electric utility company in Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 105, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 105, S.D. 1.