STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3697

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 242

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 242 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS' DIVISION OF CONSUMER ADVOCACY, TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO CREATE A HAWAII LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO ASSIST LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITH PAYING FOR THEIR HOME ENERGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Public Utilities Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Division of Consumer Advocacy, to convene a working group to create a Hawaii Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to assist low-income households with paying for their home energy.

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

Your Committee finds that the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program was created to provide qualifying households with assistance to pay for their utility bills, but the number of households receiving assistance ultimately depends on the federal funds allocated to the State for the year. Often times, those receiving assistance under the program make up only a fraction of the households that are facing energy insecurity and possible service disconnection. This measure requests the convening of a working group to create a Hawaii Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program as an additional source of funds to provide assistance for those experiencing economic hardships and energy insecurity.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the members of the working group include one representative from the Department of Human Services' Division of Benefit, Employment and Support Services, and a representative from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Office of Community Services;

(2) Updating the list of persons to receive certified copies of this measure accordingly; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 242, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 242, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair