STAND. COM. REP. NO. 450

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 452

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 452, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support State sustainability initiatives by authorizing the Public Utilities Commission to establish preferential electricity rates for qualifying agricultural activities that use protected agriculture to produce fruits and vegetables for distribution.

The Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiary utilities Maui Electric Company and Hawai‘i Electric Light Company, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Costco Wholesale Corporation, Ulupono Initiative, MetroGrow Hawaii, and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i testified in support of this measure. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Agriculture, and Public Utilities Commission provided comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 452, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair