STAND. COM. REP. NO. 619-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2966

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2966, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRICITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to encourage government agencies to produce renewable energy by allowing them to engage in "wheeling," a process by which electricity generated by a non-utility producer is transmitted over electric public utility transmission lines to another location.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, City Energy Coordinator of the City and County of Honolulu, County of Maui Department of Management, several members of the Maui County Council, Powerlight Corporation, PV Suppliers, and Life of the Land testified in support of this measure. The Public Utilities Commission, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, and Office of Economic Development of the County of Kauai submitted testimony in support of this bill with amendments. Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance supported this bill and offered comments. Hawaiian Electric Company opposed this bill.

Your Committee finds that this measure is an effective way to encourage government agencies to lead by example in the development of renewable energy resources. In addition, your Committee believes that electricity "wheeling" by government agencies may ultimately save electric utility ratepayers' money by enabling agencies to develop cost effective renewable energy systems that would otherwise not have been built. To this end, your Committee believes this measure is consistent with the State's statutory energy objectives.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2966, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce,

 

____________________________

KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair