CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 153

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 452

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 452, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PREFERENTIAL ELECTRICITY RATES FOR PROTECTED AGRICULTURE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to promote the production of fruits and vegetables for local consumption by:

(1) Authorizing the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to establish preferential electricity rates for agricultural activities that utilize protected agriculture to produce fruits or vegetables for distribution;

(2) Requiring that the protected agriculture include reasonable efforts to incorporate cost-effective renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures;

(3) Requiring the PUC, in its consideration of preferential rates, to ensure that any subsidization being paid by other customers is limited and reasonable and to periodically review and adjust the rate, if necessary; and

(4) Establishing a process whereby a public utility can request preferential electricity rates from the PUC for qualifying protected agricultural activities.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2019.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 452, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 452, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Chair	____________________________ RICHARD P. CREAGAN Co-Chair
____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Co-Chair	____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN Co-Chair
____________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN Co-Chair	____________________________ ROY M. TAKUMI Co-Chair
	____________________________ TY J.K. CULLEN Co-Chair