STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2780

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 791
                                        S.D. 2




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B.
No. 791, S.D. 1, entitled: 

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a two-year
intervenor pilot project fund, administered by the PUC to assist
intervenors in electric utility cases before the commission.

     Your Committee finds that electricity is probably the single
most relied upon public utility, for making our community
habitable.  This power source is needed to operate everything
from heating and cooking food in microwaves and ranges, to
entertainment centers containing televisions and sound systems.
Computers, telephones, water heaters, and many other appliances
rely on electricity.  When there is a proceeding before the PUC
regarding electricity rates, intervenors may help present expert
testimony and other evidence.  This measure is designed to fund a
pilot project to help intervenors who need financial assistance
to participate in these proceedings.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by replacing the
contents of the earlier draft.  While the overall purpose has
been retained, your Committee has expanded the legislative
findings and purpose section and established this program as a

 
a                                                     SB791 SD2
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2780
                                   Page 2


two-year pilot project fund to enable the project to proceed and
be evaluated in a report to the Legislature.  An appropriation of
$500,000 from the public utilities commission special fund into
the public utilities commission intervenors pilot project fund is
designed to start up this project.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
791, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third
Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 791, S.D. 2.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
a                                                     SB791 SD2