STAND. COM. REP. NO.  124

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 1148

      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 Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1148 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Public Utilities Commission to establish preferential rates for the purchase of energy that is used or consumed for agricultural activities.

Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Waimanalo Agricultural Association, Maui County Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, Local Food Coalition, Hawaii Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council and two individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture testified in support of the intent of this measure.  Blue Planet Foundation testified in support of this measure with amendments.  The Public Utilities Commission opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding a new subsection to extend the preferential rates to the Department of Agriculture; and

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1148, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1148, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair