STAND. COM. REP. NO. 737

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 193

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 193, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY-EFFICIENCY PORTFOLIO STANDARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the State's energy-efficiency portfolio standards by:

(A) Raising the goal from four thousand three hundred gigawatt hours to six thousand gigawatt hours;

(B) Extending the final deadline from 2030 to 2045; and

(C) Basing the goals on cumulative persisting electricity savings rather than electricity use reductions; and

(2) Authorize the Public Utilities Commission to establish interim goals.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Public Utilities Commission; Hawaii State Energy Office; Office of Economic Development of the County of Kaua‘i; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Hawai‘i Energy; Blue Planet Foundation; Ulupono Initiative; Climate Protectors Hawaii; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that the Energy-Efficiency Portfolio Standards have been a successful policy for the State, serving as a critical component in support of the State's clean energy and decarbonization goals. Since the standards were established, they have generated many successful energy-saving programs for Hawaii's residents and businesses. According to the Market Potential Study (2020), the State is on track to meet and exceed the established 2030 target of four thousand three hundred gigawatt hours of energy savings. This measure challenges the State to further exceed the goal by establishing a new long-term goal of six thousand gigawatt hours by 2045.

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. 193, 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,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair