[§269-144]  Compliance and enforcement.  (a)  The commission shall take all necessary steps, including audits, spot checks, data requests, report requests, and internal monitoring procedures, to ensure that any electric utility, any user, owner, or operator of the Hawaii electric system, or any other person, business, or entity connecting to the Hawaii electric system is in compliance with all adopted reliability standards and interconnection requirements, as appropriate.

     (b)  The commission may impose reasonable penalties on any user, owner, or operator of the Hawaii electric system, or any other person, business, or entity connecting to the Hawaii electric system acting in violation of an adopted reliability standard after notice as provided under section 269-12 and an opportunity for a proceeding under section 269-15 has been given.

     (c)  The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for the issuance of any penalty under this section.  In adopting rules, the commission may make provisions for the Hawaii electric reliability administrator to recommend penalties and enforcement to the commission. [L 2012, c 166, pt of §2]