Report Title:

Underground Utility Lines

 

Description:

Provides that any costs of placing 46 kilovolt or greater lines underground not otherwise borne exclusively by a government or private entity shall be apportioned by the public utilities commission among the ratepayers, the taxpayers, and the public utility.

 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1463

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO UTILITY TRANSMISSION LINES.

 

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

SECTION 1. Section 269-27.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§269-27.6[]] Construction of high-voltage electric transmission lines; overhead or underground construction. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, whenever a public utility applies to the public utilities commission for approval to place, construct, erect, or otherwise build a new forty-six kilovolt or greater high-voltage electric transmission system, either above or below the surface of the ground, the public utilities commission shall determine whether the electric transmission system shall be placed, constructed, erected, or built above or below the surface of the ground; provided that in its determination, the public utilities commission shall consider:

(1) Whether a benefit exists that outweighs the costs of placing the electric transmission system underground;

(2) Whether there is a governmental public policy requiring the electric transmission system to be placed, constructed, erected, or built underground, and the governmental agency establishing the policy commits funds for the additional costs of undergrounding;

(3) Whether any governmental agency or other parties are willing to pay for the additional costs of undergrounding;

(4) The recommendation of the division of consumer advocacy of the department of commerce and consumer affairs, which shall be based on an evaluation of the factors set forth under this subsection; and

(5) Any other relevant factors.

The public utilities commission shall apportion any costs of undergrounding, which are not otherwise borne exclusively by any government or private entity, among the ratepayers, taxpayers, and the public utility."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

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