STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1322

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1055

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1055, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation out of the Public Utilities Commission Special Fund for the Public Utilities Commission to procure services by consultants with technical expertise to assist with the efforts to strengthen the resilience and reliability of electric utility services in the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Public Utilities Commission and Hawaiian Electric.

Your Committees find that the 2023 Maui wildfires were collectively one of the most devastating natural disasters the State has ever experienced in recent history. In response to the wildfires, the Public Utilities Commission (Commission) has established many initiatives to address the growing threat of wildfires and other natural hazards to the State. Part of these efforts include engaging in discussions with other experts in the industry to assist in efforts to strengthen critical infrastructure, mitigate risks, protect utility customers, and ensure resilient recovery after extreme weather events.

Your Committees further find that the Commission requires the technical advice of experts for many aspects, including natural hazard and wildfire mitigation plans, resilience and reliability of electric utility services, and utility organization. This measure will provide the Commission with the necessary funds to expediently procure consulting services from experts in the industry to help develop solutions to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language declaring that the appropriation contained in this measure will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by a certain amount and that the appropriation made is necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July  1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1055, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1055, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair