STAND. COM. REP. NO.  763

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 484

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 484, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow more electric utility customers to participate in renewable energy production and use by establishing a community-based renewable energy tariff system, subject to the approval of, and interconnection and capacity limits set by the Public Utilities Commission.

The Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Hawaii Green Growth; The Democratic Party of Hawaii; and many individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  One individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Public Utilities Commission; Kauai Island Utility Cooperative; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaiian Electric Company; Maui Electric Company; Hawaii Electric Light Company; Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance; Blue Planet Foundation; Clean Energy Collective; and one concerned individual submitted comments on this measure.    

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 484, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair