STAND. COM. REP. NO. 834

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 369

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 369 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt a public utility and water carrier from obtaining the required Public Utilities Commission authorization when disposing of a fully depreciated asset or property with a zero net book value.

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

Your Committee finds that under existing law, public utilities and water carriers are required to obtain approval from the Public Utilities Commission for the disposition or donation of an asset or property. Your Committee further finds that when an asset or property is fully depreciated, the regulatory benefit may be outweighed by the time and resources needed for the administrative review. This measure eliminates the unnecessary review in this limited instance in which an asset or property is fully depreciated.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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. 369, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 369, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair