STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1149-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2997

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2997, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require each electric utility to have a risk-based wildfire protection plan that is filed with and approved by the Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaiian Electric; and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from Life of the Land. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of the Governor; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Hawaii State Energy Office; Public Utilities Commission; Hawaii Association for Justice; and Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Your Committees find that the risk of wildfires in the State is increasing as a result of climate change and that preventive measures are necessary to mitigate this risk. This measure would require each electric utility to have a risk-based wildfire protection plan.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring electric utilities to operate in compliance with an approved risk-based wildfire protection plan;

(2) Adding further specifications for the basis of and inputs to the mandatory risk-based wildfire protection plans; procedures for their evaluation, approval, and update; penalties for failure of an electric utility to comply with an approved plan; and other details;

(3) Authorizing the Public Utilities Commission to convene workshops to assist electric utilities in developing and sharing information for the identification, adoption, and implementation of best practices regarding wildfires;

(4) Requiring public utilities to report wildfires potentially caused by or occurring in connection with their operations or service and requiring the Public Utilities Commission to investigate the causes of certain wildfires;

(5) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2997, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2997, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land,

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair