STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1058-20
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2020
RE: S.B. No. 2655
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2020
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2655, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UTILITY TRANSMISSION LINES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to exempt a public utility from seeking approval from the Public Utilities Commission (Commission) to place, construct, erect, or build a high-voltage electric transmission system under certain circumstances.
Your Committee finds
that the Commission currently reviews all proposals for the construction of
high-voltage transmission lines to determine whether transmission line systems
should be built above or below ground. It
is often significantly more expensive to build transmission lines below ground
than above ground, and when a public utility is paying these costs, the burden
is passed onto the ratepayers. However,
if an entity other than a public utility is responsible for the cost of
undergrounding, there is no direct ratepayer burden.
Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.
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 S.B. No. 2655, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2655, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
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____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |
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