HB2295 HSCR273-02

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO.273-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2295

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2295 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

(1) Require that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) establish an intervenor program to help consumers provide information for hearings and other PUC proceedings; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the creation and maintenance of a PUC website.

Testimony in support of this bill was submitted by Life of the Land, Na Leo Pohai, and seven concerned individuals. Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was provided by the Consumer Advocate. PUC, Hawaiian Electric Company, and Verizon Hawaii submitted testimony in opposition to the bill. Kauai Electric and the Gas Company provided comments.

Your Committee recognizes that although the Consumer Advocate is currently responsible for representing, protecting, and advancing the interests of "all" consumers before the PUC, the Consumer Advocate may be unable to satisfactorily fulfill that mandate when the interests of the consumer are inconsistent with the position taken by the Consumer Advocate. Permitting other interested parties who possess "significant information" to intervene would expand public access to the PUC forum, and create an environment in which better, more informed decisions may be made.

Furthermore, your Committee finds that requiring the PUC to establish and maintain a website would benefit the public by providing a very effective and efficient means of communicating, educating, and informing consumers about PUC. In light of PUC's testimony that they have routinely returned excess funds from their operating budget into the general fund, your Committee finds that concerns over funding for this new initiative should not impede its implementation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2295 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce,

 

		____________________________ KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair