STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1681

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 200

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 200, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO CONSIDER REASONABLE RATEMAKING TREATMENT AND COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO LESSEN THE BURDEN OF ENERGY COSTS ON LOW- AND LIMITED-INCOME AND SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS CUSTOMERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Public Utilities Commission to consider programs that will ease the burden of energy costs on low- and limited-income customers and customers with special medical needs.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaiian Electric Company, Parents and Children Together, and Aloha United Way.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's high energy costs greatly affect the State's low- and limited-income residents and residents with special medical needs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the amendment requested by the Hawaiian Electric Company that requests the Public Utilities Commission to approve a subsidy through utility rates to establish a program to assist low-income and special medical needs to customers until a State funded program is established.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 200, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 200, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair