STAND. COM. REP. NO.1306

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 1328

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing and Energy and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1328, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide that the Consumer Advocate may consider the long-term benefits of renewable resources in the Consumer Advocate's role as Consumer Advocate.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter, Life of the Land, and an individual.

According to the DCCA, the Consumer Advocate currently considers the long-term benefits of renewable resources in the course of reviewing filings made by energy utility companies before the Public Utilities Commission. The Consumer Advocate has attempted to support renewable energy development resources in executing its fiduciary responsibilities to consumers, by balancing the interests of all ratepayers and utilities, as well as other factors.

Because renewable energy is vitally important, your Committees have amended this measure by requiring, instead of allowing, the Consumer Advocate to consider the long-term benefits of renewable resources. Additionally, a technical, nonsubstantive amendment was made for clarity.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing and Energy and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1328, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1328, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing and Energy and Environment,

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J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair

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RON MENOR, Chair