STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2108

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2092

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2092 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Public Utilities Commission to direct each electric and gas utility company in the State to file proposals for programs to provide certain benefits to residential property owners in fire-prone areas to reduce or eliminate the impacts of wildfires on residential properties or to purchase emergency equipment or supplies for use in deenergization events.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Public Utilities Commission, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiʻi Gas, and Life of the Land.

Your Committee finds that electric utility infrastructure is prone to impact during hazardous or severe weather related events. Your Committee believes that to address this issue, particularly in fire-related events, electric utility companies must provide robust wildfire mitigation plans. This measure will assist the Public Utilities Commission in prioritizing public safety and maintaining utility services during a high-risk hazardous event.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting all references to gas utility companies; and

(2) Specifying that improvements be related to electric infrastructure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2092, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2092, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair