HB329

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that meeting the State's goal of transitioning completely to renewable energy for electricity and transportation is most cost-efficient when certain measures are taken during the construction of new homes rather than as retrofits after construction has already been completed.

The legislature further finds that when undertaken during home construction, preparation for the future installation of infrastructure for photovoltaic systems and electric vehicles can leverage existing work activities with a minimum of additional time and effort. In contrast, retrofitting a completed home to install photovoltaic infrastructure may require breaking and repairing walls, installing longer conduits, and performing expensive upgrades of already-installed electric service panels. Meanwhile, retrofitting a finished home to install electric vehicle infrastructure may require trenching, demolition, and re-paving. Furthermore, the costs for permitting, inspection, and project management are lower for new construction than for existing structures.

On February 18, 2020, the office of climate change, sustainability and resiliency of the city and county of Honolulu provided cost estimates for certain measures passed by the Honolulu city council in order to make new homes "photovoltaic and electric vehicle ready". The cost estimate for solar conduit and electric panel readiness ranges from $100 to $300, and the cost estimate for electric vehicle readiness also falls within the same range.

The city and county of Honolulu enacted a measure to require solar conduit and electrical panel readiness for new construction and a measure to require electric vehicle readiness when an electrical panel and parking area are installed.

The legislature finds that these important actions should be adopted on a statewide basis. Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to require, beginning on January 1, 2024:

(1) Solar conduit and electrical panel readiness for new residential construction; and

(2) Electric vehicle readiness when an electrical panel and parking area are installed.

SECTION 2. Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§196- Photovoltaic infrastructure; new residential construction. (a) With respect to the construction of new residences, construction plans shall indicate:

(1) A location for inverters, metering equipment, battery equipment, energy storage equipment, and other equipment to interconnect a residence with on-site solar energy generation facilities with the electrical grid in compliance with all applicable laws and utility tariffs; and

(2) A pathway for the routing of conduits from the solar panel location to the point of interconnection with electrical service.

(b) An electrical panel with the capacity to accommodate not less than a five-kilowatt alternating current photovoltaic system shall be installed for each newly constructed single-family residence or each residential unit within a two-family detached residence or duplex.

(c) An electrical panel that includes reserved space to accommodate a photovoltaic system shall be installed for each newly constructed multi-family residence. The electrical panel shall be sized:

(1) To serve common-area electrical loads; or

(2) To the amount of available space on the roof of the multi-family residence.

The reserved space shall be clearly labeled "solar photovoltaic ready".

(d) All feeders and electrical distribution equipment, including switchgear, switchboards, and panelboards, that will be fed simultaneously by the electrical grid and other power sources shall be sized to support the installation of future solar energy generation systems in accordance with the interconnection requirements of the applicable electrical code.

(e) Conduits of not less than one and one-half inches that provide a pathway from the electrical panel to the inverter location and from the inverter location to the underside of the roof sufficient to allow future installation of solar equipment shall be installed for all newly constructed residences.

(f) If conduits are to be installed between buildings or other structures, the construction plans shall provide sufficient details to demonstrate that compliance with the applicable electrical code's restrictions on the number of power supplies to each building or other structure has been examined.

(g) As used in this section:

"Residential unit" means each individual dwelling in a two-family detached residence or duplex. A "residential unit" shall be designed or used exclusively for residential occupancy and have all necessary facilities for permanent residency, such as living, sleeping, cooking, eating, and sanitation.

"Single-family residence" means an individual, freestanding, unattached dwelling unit, typically built on a lot larger than the structure itself, resulting in an area surrounding the dwelling.

"Two-family detached residence" means a freestanding, unattached dwelling unit that is intended or designed to be occupied by only two families in the following manner:

(1) The individual residential units are constructed side by side and joined by a common wall; or

(2) One residential unit is located on the first floor and the other residential unit is located on the second floor.

§196- Electric vehicle readiness. (a) In addition to the requirements of the applicable electrical code, if an application for a building permit involves the installation of an electrical panel and parking area for:

(1) A multi-family residence of three or fewer stories; or

(2) A single-family residence, two-family detached residence, or duplex,

a dedicated receptacle for an electric vehicle shall be provided with a minimum alternating current level 2.

(b) As used in this section:

"Single-family residence" means an individual, freestanding, unattached dwelling unit, typically built on a lot larger than the structure itself, resulting in an area surrounding the dwelling.

"Two-family detached residence" means a freestanding, unattached dwelling unit that is intended or designed to be occupied by only two families in the following manner:

(1) The individual residential units are constructed side by side and joined by a common wall; or

(2) One residential unit is located on the first floor and the other residential unit is located on the second floor."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2024.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	329
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII