STAND. COM. REP. NO.  563-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 2642

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2642 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to increase cost savings through effective and efficient oversight of public utilities and energy policy reform by using moneys in the Public Utilities Special Fund to fully fund all positions included in the reorganization of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Division of Consumer Advocacy under Act 177, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007.

     PUC; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc.; and Maui Electric Company, Ltd.; Hawaii Transportation Association; Hawaii Energy Policy Forum; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Blue Planet Foundation; Young Brothers, Limited; and tw telecom testified in support of this bill.  The Consumer Advocate offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 H.B. No. 2642, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2642, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair