STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 625
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: H.B. No. 592
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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 592, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UTILITIES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to require the Public Utilities Commission to:
(1) Explore,
through its docket process, solutions to the problems posed by siting of
above-ground electrical infrastructure in high-risk areas; and
(2) Submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2022.
Your Committee finds that the complexities
of determining whether to place electric transmission and distribution lines
above or below ground requires consideration of many factors, including cost,
power restoration, transmission capacity, construction impacts, risk
assessment, and rate impact on consumers.
Your Committee further finds that exploring solutions to the problems
posed by siting above-ground electrical infrastructure in high-risk areas will
lend to better assessment and sound decisions for the State's energy
infrastructure by taking into account the types of terrain and other variables.
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. 592, 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,
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____________________________ AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair |
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