STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2153

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2948

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2948 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify the Public Utilities Commission's authority concerning standard administrative practices, including operational expenditures and the hiring of personnel.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, Life of the Land, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the Public Utilities Commission is undergoing a major transition due to increased work complexity and program responsibilities, particularly in the area of energy regulation.  A streamlined administrative process that clearly defines the authority of the Commission's Chairperson to make decisions on hiring and operational expenditures is therefore necessary.  Your Committee further finds that this measure will help avoid future ambiguity regarding the Commission's autonomy and ability to hire appropriate personnel and make necessary expenditures, thereby enabling the Commission to carry out its various regulatory responsibilities within a legislatively approved budget.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2948 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair