STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1890-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.C.R. No. 182

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 182, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO HONOR AND COMPLY WITH ITS STATUTORY DUTY TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSES OF THE AUGUST 2023 MAUI WILDFIRES AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 269-9, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Public Utilities Commission to honor and comply with its statutory duty to investigate the causes of the August 2023 Maui wildfires as required by section 269-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee finds that the Public Utilities Commission could and should do more to uphold its statutory obligations to investigate the causes of the 2023 Maui wildfires, which resulted in the loss of over one hundred lives, and exercise its investigatory and other powers to ensure that electric utility services are delivered in a safe, reliable, economical, and environmentally sound manner.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 182, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair