Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2439 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to improve the ability of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to implement the One Call Center law by adding a new member to the One Call Center Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) to represent the water utility industry.

The Public Utilities Commission, Board of Water Supply for the City and County of Honolulu, and the Gas Company submitted testimony in support of this bill. The Consumer Advocate commented on this measure.

Your Committee notes that this bill would result in an even number of members on the Advisory Committee, which could result in a voting deadlock. Further, the wastewater utilities are industry stakeholders affected by the One Call Center law, but like the water utilities, are currently not included on the Advisory Committee. Therefore, your Committee has amended this bill by adding an additional member to represent the wastewater industry, for a total of 17 voting members.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2439, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2439, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.