HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1679

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to public utilities.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§269-    Telecommunications providers to notify of deenergization of electrical lines.  (a)  In preparation for receiving notifications regarding the deenergization of electrical lines, all facilities-based mobile telecommunications service providers shall:

     (1)  Designate contact points or persons within the company to receive notifications from an electric utility for expected deenergization of electrical lines; and

     (2)  Develop uniform protocols prior to a deenergization event to respond appropriately to an outage.

     (b)  Upon receipt of a notification regarding the deenergization of electrical lines, a facilities-based mobile telecommunications service provider shall communicate relevant information relating to the deenergization of electrical lines to public safety or emergency response offices for the affected areas.

     §269-    Electric utility companies; wildfire mitigation plan.  (a)  Each electric utility company in the State shall construct, maintain, and operate the company's electrical lines and equipment in a manner that shall minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfire posed by the electrical lines and equipment.

     (b)  Each electric utility company shall prepare and submit an annual wildfire mitigation plan to the public utilities commission for review and approval.  The wildfire mitigation plan shall include:

     (1)  Protocols for deenergizing electrical lines that consider the associated impacts on public safety, including protocols related to mitigating the public safety impacts on critical first responders and health and communication infrastructures;

     (2)  Procedures for notifying a customer who may be impacted by the deenergizing of electrical lines;

     (3)  Procedures for notifying public safety offices, critical first responders, health care facilities, and telecommunications service providers who are within the deenergizing areas about the deenergizing of electrical lines; and

     (4)  Protocols for deenergizing electrical lines when the deenergization may impact customers or entities who are dependent on the infrastructure."

     SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Wildfires; Deenergizing Electrical Lines; Notification; Telecommunications; Electric Utilities; Mitigation Plan

 

Description:

Requires all telecommunications service providers to communicate relevant information relating to the deenergization of electrical lines to public safety or emergency response offices for the affected areas.  Requires all electric utility companies to operate electrical lines and equipment in a manner that shall minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfire posed by the electrical lines and equipment.  Requires each electric utility company to prepare a wildfire mitigation plan and protocols for deenergizing electrical lines.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.