HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1415

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ENERGY.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that according to the United States Energy Information Administration, about ninety per cent of the energy consumed in the United States transportation sector comes from petroleum.  The legislature believes that establishing an electric vehicle charging system loan program will provide residents of Hawaii equal access to cleaner electric vehicle technologies, as well as help the environment.  Electric vehicles and charging stations should be easily accessible to residents of the State to lower daily and monthly costs for families, all while decreasing exposure to vehicle emissions and particulate matter and advancing the State's overall energy and affordability goals.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the public utilities commission to design and administer an electric vehicle charging system loan program to provide loans to applicants who install eligible electric vehicle charging systems.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§269-A  Electric vehicle charging system; loan program.  (a)  The public utilities commission, in consultation with electric vehicle stakeholders and the Hawaii state energy office, shall design and administer a loan program that incentivizes the installation of an eligible electric vehicle charging system and may contract with a third-party program administrator or administrators pursuant to section 269-73 to operate and manage the loan program.

     (b)  An applicant may be eligible for a loan under this section if the applicant installs an eligible electric vehicle charging system and is:

     (1)  A low- to moderate-income homeowner, as defined and identified by the program administrators; or

     (2)  An existing or new affordable housing development, as defined and identified by the program administrators.

     (c)  Loans made under this section shall bear no interest for the first five years and thereafter shall be no more than three per cent simple interest.

     (d)  The public utilities commission shall:

     (1)  Apply for any federal funding available to carry out the purposes of this section;

     (2)  Prepare any forms that may be necessary to apply for a loan under this section; and

     (3)  Require each applicant to furnish reasonable information to ascertain the validity of the application, including but not limited to documentation necessary to demonstrate that the installation is eligible for a loan.

     (e)  The public utilities commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to carry out the purposes of this section.

     (f)  For purposes of this section:

     "Alternating current level 2 charging station" has the same meaning as in section 269-72.

     "Applicant" has the same meaning as in section 269-72.

     "Direct current fast charging system" has the same meaning as in section 269-72.

     "Electric vehicle charging system" has the same meaning as in section 269-72.

     "Eligible electric vehicle charging system" means:

     (1)  An alternating current level 2 station with one or more ports that provides electricity to one or more electric vehicles; or

     (2)  A direct current fast charging system.

     §269-B  Electric vehicle charging system loan revolving fund.  (a)  There is established the electric vehicle charging system loan revolving fund to be administered by the public utilities commission.  Moneys in the electric vehicle charging system loan revolving fund may be used to provide loans pursuant to section 269-A to eligible applicants.

     (b)  The electric vehicle charging system loan revolving fund shall consist of the following moneys:

     (1)  Federal funds;

     (2)  Moneys appropriated by the legislature;

     (3)  Private contributions;

     (4)  Repayment of loans, including interest and payments received on account of principal; and

     (5)  All income and interest earned or accrued on moneys deposited into the fund."

     SECTION 3.  Section 269-73, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§269-73  Electric vehicle charging system; rebate program; loan program; administrator; establishment.  (a)  The public utilities commission may contract with a third-party administrator to operate and manage any programs established under section 269-72[.] or 269-A.  The administrator shall not be deemed to be a "governmental body" as defined in section 103D-104; provided that all moneys transferred to the third-party administrator shall have been appropriated by the legislature or shall be from funds provided by the federal government or private funding sources.  The administrator shall not expend more than fifteen per cent of the amounts appropriated for the rebate program or electric vehicle charging system loan program, or other reasonable percentage determined by the public utilities commission for administration of the [programs] program established under section 269-72[;] or 269-A; provided that program administration expenses may include marketing and outreach expenses to increase program participation, if needed; provided further that not more than ten per cent of the amounts appropriated for the rebate program or electric vehicle charging system loan program may be expended on non-marketing and outreach programs or administration of the respective program.

     (b)  The [electric vehicle charging system rebate program] administrator of the electric vehicle charging system rebate program and electric vehicle charging system loan program shall be subject to regulation by the public utilities commission under any provision applicable to a public utility in sections 269-7, 269-8, 269-8.2, 269-8.5, 269-9, 269‑10, 269-13, 269-15, 269-19.5, and 269-28, and shall report to the public utilities commission on a regular basis.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the [electric vehicle charging system rebate program] administrator shall not be an electric public utility or an electric public utility affiliate."

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 to be deposited into the electric vehicle charging system loan revolving fund established under section 269-B, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the electric vehicle charging system loan revolving fund established under section 269-B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 to provide loans under the electric vehicle charging system loan program under section 269-A, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the public utilities commission for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

     SECTION 7.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000.

 


 


 

Report Title:

PUC; Electric Vehicle Charging System; Installation; Loan Program; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to design and administer an Electric Vehicle Charging System Loan Program to provide loans to certain applicants who install eligible electric vehicle charging systems.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 6/30/3000.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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