STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1654-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.C.R. No. 49

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 49 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS' DIVISION OF CONSUMER ADVOCACY, TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO CREATE A HAWAII LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO ASSIST LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITH PAYING FOR THEIR HOME ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Public Utilities Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Division of Consumer Advocacy, to convene a working group to create a Hawaii Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to assist low-income households with paying for their home energy.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Office of Community Services, Hawaii State Energy Office, and Hawaiian Electric Company. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's electricity rates are one of the highest in the nation, at close to three times the national average, and vary based on availability of renewable resources, power plants, fuel costs, and pricing regulations. While the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program assists low-income households that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy, benefits cannot be distributed once funds run out for the year. Therefore, establishing a state Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program would create additional assistance for households experiencing energy insecurity in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a representative from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Office of Community Services to the working group; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 49, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 49, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair