STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1617-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2191

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2191, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to promote the public health and safety by requiring the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to conduct a statewide study focusing on one priority region per county where utility lines are prone to falling or damage, for the purpose of developing a plan, in consultation with utilities and communities, to place overhead utility lines underground.

     The Consumer Advocate and PUC provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2191, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair