STAND. COM. REP. NO.  184

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1504

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1504 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the energy climate in Hawaii by requiring and funding a study by the Legislative Reference Bureau to identify different public utility models utilized across the United States, identify former for-profit public utilities that have converted to different business models, and assess such conversion processes.

A concerned individual supported this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Legislative Reference Bureau submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Narrowing the scope of the study:

          (A)  To examine only specific energy utilities and those deemed appropriate by the Legislative Reference Bureau; and

          (B)  By providing greater detail about what the study should cover, including comparing specific elements of the utilities' organizational models and reviewing the process employed and issues that arise in converting to a different model;

     (2)  Allowing the Legislative Reference Bureau to contract with another entity for services that may be required to conduct the study, without regard to chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

     (3)  Extending the deadline by which the Legislative Reference Bureau must submit a report of its findings to the Legislature to 20 days before the convening of the 2016 Regular Session; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1504, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1504, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair