STAND. COM. REP. NO. 729

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 561

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 561, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Public Utilities Commission to determine whether analysis of the effect of the State's reliance on fossil fuels is necessary for proceedings involving water, wastewater, or telecommunications providers on an individual basis; and

(2) Provide that the analysis is not required for an electric or a gas utility's routine system replacements or determinations that do not directly pertain to capital improvements or operations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Public Utilities Commission. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Gas, and Hawaii Clean Power Alliance.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 561, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair