STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 107
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 243
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 243 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; Citizens Climate Lobby Hawaiʻi; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; 350Hawaii.org; Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from NAIOP Hawaii.
Your Committee finds that there is an urgent need to encourage the rapid transition to renewable energy. Your Committee further finds that this measure would better accomplish this need by establishing a Streamlined Grid-Ready Home Interconnection Process that supports the rapid adoption of clean energy technologies and ensures power system reliability.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Deleting its contents and inserting the contents of H.B. No. 340, a measure heard and considered by your Committee that:
(A) Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a Streamlined Grid-Ready Home Interconnection Process; and
(B) Authorizes the use of the Hawaii Electricity Reliability Surcharge for cost recovery of certain expenses of the Hawaii Electricity Reliability Administrator associated with the Streamlined Grid-Ready Home Interconnection Process;
(2) Changing the deadline for the Public Utilities Commission to establish the Streamlined Grid-Ready Home Interconnection Process to October 1, 2026;
(3) Changing the cost-sharing fee for service upgrades to an unspecified amount and deleting the deadline for completion of service upgrades;
(4) Adding requirements obligating regulated electric utilities to allow for the interconnection and utilization of vehicle-to-grid capabilities;
(5) Removing the provision authorizing the use of the Hawaii Electricity Reliability Surcharge for cost recovery of certain expenses;
(6) Requiring reports on the status of the Streamlined Grid-Ready Home Interconnection Process to be submitted to the Legislature instead of the Public Utilities Commission;
(7) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000,
to encourage further discussion; and
(8) 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 243, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 243, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Housing.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
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____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |
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