STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1443-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2720

S.D. 2

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2720, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Allow for new or upgraded electric vehicle charging stations having a single port to qualify for a rebate under the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rebate Program;

(2) Increase flexibility of the Public Utilities Commission to administer the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rebate Program;

(3) Increase the maximum percentage of Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rebate Program appropriations that may be expended for administrative costs; and

(4) Allow for marketing and outreach expenses to be included within allowable administration costs of the Rebate Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Public Utilities Commission; Department of Transportation; Hawaii State Energy Office; Office of Economic Development of the County of Kaua‘i; Department of Design and Construction of the City and County of Honolulu; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Pearl City Neighborhood Board No. 21; Ulupono Initiative; Kauai Women's Caucus; KauaiEV; 350Hawaii.org; Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association; Big Island Electric Vehicle Association; Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association; Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Blue Planet Foundation; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Building Owners and Managers Association of Hawai‘i; Hawaiian Electric Company; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Hawai‘i Energy.

Your Committee finds that continuation of the Electric Vehicle Charging System Rebate Program is critical to widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the State. To ensure that the program is keeping pace with market and technology changes, periodic adjustments may be needed to help ensure that the program is adequately deploying rebates to priority locations and making the purchase of an electric vehicle affordable for low- and moderate-income working families. Your Committee further finds that by expanding rebate eligibility to a wider variety of electric vehicle charging systems and providing the Public Utilities Commission with greater flexibility in administering the program, this measure will increase program participation and accelerate charging system deployment.

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 S.B. No. 2720, S.D. 2, 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