HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2644
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that for Hawaii's farmers and ranchers to remain competitive and self-sustaining, incentives and mechanisms must be implemented to reduce costs and ensure that the State's constitutional mandate to promote diversified agriculture and increase agricultural self-sufficiency is fulfilled.  The public utilities commission regulates the tariffs set for public utilities that provide essential services to the agricultural industry, such as interisland shipping.

     The purpose of this Act is to permit the public utilities commission to authorize preferential rates for water carrier service for ratepayers engaged in agricultural activities.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§269-   Preferential water carrier service rates for agricultural activities. The public utilities commission may authorize preferential water carrier service rates by tariff for ratepayers that engage in agricultural activities.  The application process for obtaining preferential water carrier service rates by tariff may be established by the public utilities commission."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2012.

Report Title:

Water Carrier; Tariffs

Description:

Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to provide preferential water carrier service tariffs for ratepayers that engage in agricultural activities.  (HB2644 CD1)

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