Report Title:

Public Utilities Commission; Gas Companies

 

Description:

Invests the public utilities commission with investigatory authority over gas prices.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2668

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§269- Investigation of gas prices at the pump. (a) The public utilities commission shall investigate, from time to time as deemed appropriate, prices charged for the purchase of gas at the pump by motorists. If it appears upon investigation that the gas prices charged to motorists at the pump is unreasonable, then the public utilities commission shall report to the director of commerce and consumer affairs the result of the investigation, and whether the prices charged to motorists are reasonable or not. The report shall be a public record.

(b) For purposes of subsection (a), the public utilities commission shall have the powers conferred under section 269-10, and may:

(1) Investigate the pricing practices and methods of gas wholesalers, suppliers, and refiners; and

(2) Hold public hearings on the matter.

(c) Every gas wholesaler, supplier, and refiner subject to investigation under this section, at all times, upon request, shall furnish to the public utilities commission all information that it may require respecting any of the matters concerning its investigation, and shall permit the examination of books, records, contracts, charts, and other documents by the commission, or any of its members, or any person authorized by it in writing to make the examination, and shall furnish the commission with a current inventory of its oil and gas in a form in which the commission may direct."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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