STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1006

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 1347

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 1347, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to accept filings electronically.

     The Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaiian Telcom, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and its subsidiaries, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., and Maui Electric Company, Ltd., and Aina Koa Pono supported this measure.  The PUC provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Allowing electric utility companies to use a PUC-approved automatic rate adjustment clause to meet increased revenue requirements incurred when the electric utility company and its electric utility subsidiaries aggregate their renewable portfolios to meet a renewable portfolio standard; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee finds that the renewable portfolio standards law was enacted to accelerate the development of renewable resources, furthering the State's goal of energy independence.  The amendment to this measure will facilitate electric utility companies and their electric utility subsidiaries in meeting increased revenue requirements incurred when they aggregate to meet a renewable portfolio standard.  This, in turn, will facilitate the development of renewable energy projects leading to a reduction in Hawaii's reliance on imported petroleum fuels and transitioning Hawaii to a renewable energy State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1347, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1347, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair