STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1099

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 133

      S.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 133, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UTILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to create discounted "lifeline electricity rates" for qualified residential electricity customers who are elderly or disabled, and with limited income.

     Testimony in support of this measure as submitted by Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.  Comments on this measure were submitted by the Public Utilities Commission and the Division of Consumer Advocacy, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that normal residential rates for electricity may be difficult for low-income elderly or disabled persons to afford.  This poses a special problem for elderly or disabled customers that have medical conditions that must be monitored or treated in the home with electric medical devices.  The discounted lifeline electricity rates for qualified elderly and disabled customers that is provided under this measure will ensure that they have continued access to affordable electricity in their homes on a regular basis, as well as for medical treatments that depend upon electricity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 133, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair