STAND. COM. REP. NO.  847

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 1405

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1405, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase transparency in power purchase contracts for renewable energy by requiring the Public Utilities Commission to include a summary of power purchase agreements in effect during the applicable fiscal year in its annual report to the Governor.

The Public Utilities Commission provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Blue Planet Foundation provided testimony in support of this measure with amendments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring that the summary of power purchase agreements in effect during the fiscal year include pricing;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, for the purpose of facilitating further discussion; and

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

     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 H.B. No. 1405, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1405, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair