STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1809

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.C.R. No. 91

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.C.R. No. 91 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO APPROVE A SUBSIDY THROUGH UTILITY RATES FOR REASONABLE RATEMAKING TREATMENT TO LESSEN THE BURDEN OF ENERGY COSTS ON LOW- AND LIMITED-INCOME AND SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS CUSTOMERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Public Utilities Commission to approve a subsidy through utility rates for reasonable ratemaking treatment to lessen the burden of energy costs on low- and limited-income and special medical needs customers.

Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Maui Electric Company, Ltd.; Hawai‘i Electric Light Company, Inc.; Aloha United Way; HOPE Services Hawai‘i; Honolulu Community Action Program, Inc.; and Parents And Children Together submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, and Public Utilities Commission submitted comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Providing the Public Utilities Commission with more flexibility to determine the manner in which the goal may be achieved by requesting that the Public Utilities Commission collaborate with the Division of Consumer Advocacy, electric utilities, and other stakeholders to explore cost-effective solutions, rather than requesting a subsidy through utility rates; and

(2) Amending the title of the measure to reflect this new purpose so that the title reads: "REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO COLLABORATE WITH THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER ADVOCACY, ELECTRIC UTILITIES, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO EXPLORE COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO LESSEN THE BURDEN OF ENERGY COSTS ON LOW- AND LIMITED-INCOME AND SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS CUSTOMERS."

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 91, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 91, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair