THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3064
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to Utility Poles.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that new utility poles are often installed adjacent to an existing utility pole and the original pole is left in place. This results in what is sometimes referred to as double poles. In some instances, a third pole is installed next to two existing poles, resulting in a triple pole. In most cases, this occurs when the electric utility deems it necessary to install a new pole: the electric utility transfers its wiring to the new pole and the other utilities, such as telephone, cable television, and municipal street lights, remain on the original pole.

The joint pole committee is entrusted with coordination of access and responsibilities between all affected agencies regarding utility poles. One guideline is that the last utility provider to relocate its equipment to the new pole should be responsible for removal of the original pole. As such, many double poles remain indefinitely because no utility provider wants to be the last agency to relocate its equipment and become responsible for the removal of the original pole.

The legislature further finds that many of the original poles that remain in place are unsafe due to termite damage, rot, collision damage from vehicles, and many other safety concerns, and many of the original poles remain even after all other utility equipment has been relocated. These double and triple poles mar the natural beauty of the State and create a safety hazard, and should not be permitted.

The purpose of this Act is to prohibit new utility pole installation within ten feet of an existing utility pole unless the relevant utility service providers remove the original pole within ninety days of installation of the new pole.

SECTION 2. Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§269-   Installation of new utility poles; removal of old utility poles. (a) A public utility shall not install, construct, erect, or otherwise build a new utility pole within ten feet of an existing utility pole unless the original utility pole will be uninstalled and removed within ninety days of installing, constructing, erecting, or otherwise building the new utility pole. The joint pole committee shall maintain records of the installation date of all poles installed within ten feet of an existing utility pole and the date the original utility pole is removed.

(b) For the purposes of this section, "original utility pole" means the utility pole from which a public utility's equipment was transferred."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Utility Poles; Public Utilities

Description:

Prohibits public utilities from installing a new utility pole within ten feet of an existing utility pole; unless the original utility pole will be removed within ninety days of installing the new utility pole.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.