STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1668-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 43

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.R. No. 43 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO CONSIDER EFFORTS TO MITIGATE HIGH ENERGY BURDENS FOR LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME CUSTOMERS AND INVESTIGATE HOW TO INTEGRATE CONSIDERATIONS OF ENERGY EQUITY AND JUSTICE ACROSS ITS WORK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Public Utilities Commission to consider efforts to mitigate high energy burdens for low- and moderate-income customers and investigate how to integrate considerations of energy equity and justice across its work.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Office of Community Services; and Hawaiian Electric Company. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office and Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee finds that many households in Hawaii have difficulty paying energy bills. Despite Hawaii having the highest electricity rates in the nation, the State's electric utilities do not offer utility specific low- to moderate-income discount rates and have limited, if any, bill assistance options. Therefore, it is critical to examine ways to assist low- and limited-income customers by reducing their residential electricity burden and ensuring continued access to electrical power.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Acknowledging the work of the Public Utilities Commission on energy resource issues;

(2) Requesting the Public Utilities Commission to consider input from the Consumer Advocate;

(3) Clarifying that the requested proceeding or proceedings established by the Public Utilities Commission should not be duplicative, but rather focus on the need for integration of energy equity and justice;

(4) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 43, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 43, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair