Report Title:

Energy Efficiency; Certificate of Public Good

Description:

Requires electric utilities to obtain a certificate of public good from the public utilities commission for the construction of any electric transmission or generation facility, prior to beginning site preparation or exercising the right of eminent domain.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	642
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§269-  Certificate of public good. (a)  No public utility:

(1) May begin site preparation for or construction of an electric generation facility or electric transmission facility within the State that is designed for immediate or eventual operation at any voltage; or

(2) May exercise the right of eminent domain in connection with the site preparation for or construction of any transmission or generation facility, as described in paragraph (1),

unless the public utilities commission first finds that the same will promote the general good of the State and issues a certificate of public good to that effect.

(b)  A certificate of public good shall be issued to the applicant if the public utilities commission finds that the purchase, investment, or construction of the proposed electric generation or transmission facility is required to meet the need for present and future demand for service that could not otherwise be provided in a more cost-effective manner through energy conservation programs and measures and energy efficiency and load management measures.

(c)  For each application for a certificate of public good, the public utilities commission shall:

(1) Hold a public hearing or hearings on the island on which the proposed facility is to be located; provided that notice of the public hearing shall be given in the manner prescribed in section 269-12(c); and

(2) Hold a hearing at a location that it selects.

(d)  The public utilities commission may conduct its review of public good and its review of proposed capital expenditures for projects related to plant replacement, expansion, or modernization in excess of $500,000, as set forth in Standards for Electric Utility Service in the State of Hawaii, General Order No. 7, concurrently."

     SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________