STAND. COM. REP. NO.  736

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 813

      H.D. 1

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. 813 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRICITY PRODUCERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Public Utilities Commission to examine all information relating to power purchase agreements under review by the Commission, including relevant cost information of independent power producers.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Division of Consumer Advocacy, Public Utilities Commission, Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Pua Pono Alliance, Friends of Lanai, and a few individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance and Solar Power Systems International provided testimony in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Also authorizing the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to examine all information relating to power purchase agreements under review by the Public Utilities Commission and the Division of Consumer Advocacy, and making conforming amendments to the measure's purpose section to reflect this amendment;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage 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. 813, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 813, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair