STAND. COM. REP. NO. 921

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 78

H.D. 1

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. 78, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to eliminate the requirement for a public utility to seek approval from the Public Utilities Commission for the underground construction of high-voltage electric transmission lines, if certain conditions are met.

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

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. 78, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair