THE SENATE                           S.R. NO.              93
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO OPEN A DOCKET ON
    NET METERING.



 1        WHEREAS, new and improved technologies have made it
 2   possible for small-scale renewable energy systems to be put
 3   into use safely and reliably by customer-generators, such as
 4   homeowners and small businesses; and
 5   
 6        WHEREAS, net metering allows consumers to offset the cost
 7   of electricity they buy from a utility by selling back to the
 8   utility the excess renewable energy generated at their homes or
 9   businesses; and
10   
11        WHEREAS, net metering can further the use of renewable
12   energy systems; and
13   
14        WHEREAS, the use of renewable energy systems can enhance
15   the economic growth in the State, can offset Hawaii's reliance
16   on imported fossil fuels, and can encourage private investment
17   in renewable energy resources; and
18   
19        WHEREAS, the use of renewable energy systems can also have
20   significant environmental benefits, by reducing the amount of
21   emissions; and
22   
23        WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that a thorough review
24   of net metering by the Public Utilities Commission would be
25   invalueable; now, therefore,
26   
27        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
28   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, that the
29   Public Utilities Commission is requested to open a docket on
30   net metering; and
31   
32        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the docket is requested to
33   include consideration of:
34   

 
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                                  S.R. NO.              93
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1        (1)  Actual data, including real-time electricity
 2             production and use, and net use and consumption by
 3             the time of day;
 4   
 5        (2)  Metering methods;
 6   
 7        (3)  A rate structure, including the net change in
 8             electricity rates for different classes of
 9             ratepayers;
10   
11        (4)  Interconnection and safety issues;
12   
13        (5)  The impact of net metering on overall electric
14             utility income and profitability;
15   
16        (6)  The advantages of net metering, including deferred
17             capacity, value of energy, reduction of fossil fuel
18             use, and power quality issues;
19   
20        (7)  The disadvantages of net metering, including revenue
21             losses for utilities;
22   
23        (8)  Other technologies that are pertinent; and
24   
25        (9)  Other state jurisdictions that are pertinent to
26             Hawaii's situation and that have adopted some type of
27             net metering provision, either through law or
28             administrative rule;
29   
30   and
31   
32        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting the proceedings
33   in the docket, the Public Utilities Commission is requested to
34   consult with the utilities, the independent power producers,
35   the Consumer Advocate, and the community groups; and
36   
37        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities
38   Commission is requested to submit a report concerning the
39   status of this request and any findings and recommendations to
40   the Legislature not later than twenty calendar days prior to
41   the convening of the Regular Session of 2001; and
42   
43        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies to this
44   Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Public
45   Utilities Commission, and the Consumer Advocate, who in turn is

 
 
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                                  S.R. NO.              93
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   requested to transmit copies to Hawaiian Electric Company,
 2   Kauai Electric, all independent power producers in the State,
 3   Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, Life of the Land and the
 4   Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter.
 5   
 6 
 7 
 8 
 9                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________