STAND. COM. REP. NO.  446-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2567

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2567 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 establish consistency in the review of utility mergers by establishing substantial net benefit as the Public Utility Commission's standard of review for a transfer or assignment of a public utility franchise.

The Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Alliance for Solar Choice, and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Maui Electric Company; and Hawaii Electric Light Company testified in opposition to this measure.

     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. 2567 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair