STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2218-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.C.R. No. 96

S.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 96, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE HAWAII ELECTRIC RELIABILITY ADMINISTRATOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Public Utilities Commission to provide a report to the Legislature regarding the progress the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator has made delivering on the following:

(1) The scope of work contemplated by Act 201, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, including resource adequacy;

(2) Reliability standards and the interconnection workplan; and

(3) The status of the competitive procurement process with regard to the Commission's contracting of qualified and experienced consultants to perform the duties and tasks of the Administrator.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee finds that efficient and timely interconnection processes are essential for maintaining electric system reliability and achieving the State's clean energy goals, yet persistent delays have contributed to the cancellation of more than half of planned renewable energy projects. Your Committee further finds that while the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator was established over a decade ago to oversee these critical functions, the lack of full implementation has left the State vulnerable to projected capacity shortfalls and continued reliance on aging fossil-fuel infrastructure. This measure requests the Public Utilities Commission to provide a comprehensive report on the progress of the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, specifically addressing its efforts to establish reliability standards, improve interconnection procedures, and procure expert consultants.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 96, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair