Report Title:
Energy Efficiency; Pay As You Save Program
Description:
Expands the pay as you save pilot program to include photovoltaic energy systems and refrigerator exchanges.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
432 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to energy efficiency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Act 240, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, is amended by amending section 13 to read as follows:
"SECTION 13. [Solar water heating
pay] Pay as you save program; purpose; establishment; tariff
filing. (a) Solar water heating systems and photovoltaic energy
systems are a renewable energy technology that uses solar collectors placed
on roofs to heat water[.] or provide electricity. These systems
decrease reliance on imported oil used to generate electricity to heat water or
provide electricity because they use less energy than the electric [hot
water heating] systems replaced. In addition, the replacement of older,
less efficient household appliances with energy efficient appliances will also
decrease energy usage.
The legislature finds that the up-front cost of
installation is a barrier preventing many Hawaii residents from installing
solar water heating systems[.] or photovoltaic energy systems. The
legislature further finds that the cost of replacing inefficient household
appliances also presents a significant barrier to installing more efficient
appliances. The legislature further finds that the renewable energy
technologies income tax credit and electric utility rebates have not been
enough of an incentive to overcome these up-front costs, especially for rental
housing and homes in need of retrofit for these important energy-saving
devices.
The purpose of this section is to authorize the
public utilities commission to implement a pilot project to be called the ["solar
water heating pay] "pay as you save program".
(b) The public utilities commission shall
implement a pilot project to be called the ["solar water heating pay]
"pay as you save program", which shall:
(1) Allow [a] residential and small
commercial electric utility [customer] customers to purchase
a solar water heating system[:] or a photovoltaic energy system:
(A) With no upfront payments; and
(B) By paying the cost of the system over time
on the customer's electricity bill[;] at an interest rate to be
determined by the public utilities commission;
provided that the estimated life cycle electricity savings from the solar water heating system or photovoltaic energy system exceeds the cost of the system;
(2) Provide for billing and payment of the solar water heating system or photovoltaic energy system on the utility bill;
(3) Provide for disconnection of utility service for
non‑payment of [solar water heating system] pay as you save
payments; [and]
(4) Allow for assignment of system repayment costs
attached to the meter location[.];
(5) Allow customers to exchange a qualifying refrigerator, manufactured prior to a date determined by the public utilities commission, for a new ENERGY STAR refrigerator; subject to qualifications established by the public utilities commission; provided that customers shall make no up front payment but shall be allowed to pay any costs associated with the exchange over time on the customer's electricity bill; and
(6) Allow customers who enroll in the program to receive an energy audit with the cost partially paid by the public benefits fee administrator, contracted pursuant to section 269-122, Hawaii Revised Statutes, at a rate to be determined by the public utilities commission.
(c) The public utilities commission shall
determine the time frame of the pilot program and shall gather and analyze
information to evaluate the pilot program[.] and shall report this information
to the energy resources coordinator.
(d) The public benefits fee administrator shall administer the pilot program and shall provide progress reports to the public utilities commission eight months and fourteen months after the start of the program and annually thereafter.
(e) The public benefits fee administrator may contract with appropriately licensed or qualified persons to install solar water heating systems or photovoltaic energy systems in the pilot program and shall provide for the decommissioning and disposal of refrigerators that are recovered from customers pursuant to subsection (b)(5) in a manner that complies with all applicable requirements for waste disposal.
(f) The public utilities commission may conduct follow up evaluations of the program, including energy audits, efficiency measurements, and verification.
[(d)] (g) No later than June 30,
[2007,] , each electric
utility shall implement by tariff a pay as you save model system program for [residential]
consumers that is consistent with this section. Each utility shall provide at
least six months prior notice of its proposed tariff to the public utilities
commission as prescribed in section 269-12(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes. Within
the prescribed notice period, the public utilities commission shall review the
proposed tariff and after a hearing may require modifications to the proposed
tariff as necessary to comply with or effectuate the purposes of this section.
[(e)] (h) The commission shall
ensure that all reasonable costs incurred by electric utilities to start up and
implement the pay as you save model system are recovered as part of the
utility's revenue requirement, including necessary billing system adjustments
and any costs for pay as you save model system efficiency measures that are not
recovered via participating [residential] consumers' pay as you save
model system bill payments or otherwise.
(i) No later than December 31, 2009, the public utilities commission shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, for the purposes of the pay as you save program."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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