STAND. COM. REP. NO. 625

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 592

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 592, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UTILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Public Utilities Commission to:

(1) Explore, through its docket process, solutions to the problems posed by siting of above-ground electrical infrastructure in high-risk areas; and

(2) Submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2022.

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

Your Committee finds that the complexities of determining whether to place electric transmission and distribution lines above or below ground requires consideration of many factors, including cost, power restoration, transmission capacity, construction impacts, risk assessment, and rate impact on consumers. Your Committee further finds that exploring solutions to the problems posed by siting above-ground electrical infrastructure in high-risk areas will lend to better assessment and sound decisions for the State's energy infrastructure by taking into account the types of terrain and other variables.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 592, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair