STAND. COM. REP. 1247

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.C.R. No. 172

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 172 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE TO FORM AN AD HOC ADVISORY GROUP TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARD OFFER CONTRACTS AND STANDARDIZED INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS TO FACILITATE THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCERS IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to facilitate the purchase of electricity from renewable energy producers by requesting the Consumer Advocate to form an ad hoc advisory group (advisory group) to investigate and make recommendations regarding the implementation of standard offer contracts and standardized interconnection agreements.

The Consumer Advocate, Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, Life of the Land, and five concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., and its subsidiary utilities, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., and Maui Electric Company, Ltd., offered comments.

Your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by:

(1) Requesting the Consumer Advocate to investigate not only the implementation but also the development of standard offer contracts and standardized interconnection agreements;

(2) Clarifying that the purpose of the investigation is not only to facilitate the purchase of electricity from renewable energy producers, but also to facilitate a reduction in the approval process time for the implementation of renewable energy systems;

(3) Restating the title to read:

"REQUESTING THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE TO FORM AN HOC ADVISORY GROUP TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARD OFFER CONTRACTS AND STANDARDIZED INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS TO REDUCE THE APPROVAL PROCESS TIME FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS; AND FACILITATE THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCERS IN HAWAII;"

(4) Specifying that county energy coordinators could serve as the county representatives on the advisory group;

(5) Requesting the Consumer Advocate to:

(a) Create a spreadsheet for all existing power purchase agreements and all power purchase agreements currently under negotiation; and

(b) Report on:

(i) The spreadsheet:

(ii) The methodology used to evaluate the non-financial costs and benefits of each power purchase agreement;

(iii) Recommendations to shorten the approval process time for the implementation of new renewable energy systems; and

(iv) Recommended standardized power purchase agreements;

and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of style and to correct drafting errors.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 172, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 172, H.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection,

 

____________________________

HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair