HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

93

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE FORMATION OF THE POWER QUALITY TASK FORCE TO STUDY ISSUES RELATING TO RESPONSIBILITY OVER POWER QUALITY IN HAWAII.

 

WHEREAS, our society has become increasingly dependent on sensitive electrical equipment; and

WHEREAS, our high technology, medical, computer, and civil defense industries are highly dependent on reliable power quality; and

WHEREAS, internet centers and informational services are particularly sensitive to power disruptions; and

WHEREAS, power quality refers to the existence or non-existence of voltage sags, surges, spikes, interruptions, and harmonics on an electric line; and

WHEREAS, poor power quality leads to:

(1) Damaged electric equipment; and

(2) Extensive loss in business productivity;

and

WHEREAS, poor power quality therefore serves as a financial drain on our economy; and

WHEREAS, some electric ratepayers have become frustrated with poor power quality; and

WHEREAS, some electric ratepayers have been unable to determine who regulates power quality; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the Senate concurring, that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to establish the Power Quality Task Force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to include as members of the Power Quality Task Force, representatives of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; the Consumer Advocate; Puna Geothermal Ventures; the hydroelectric generatation industry; persons who are cogenerators; representatives of the wind generatation industry; the Hawaii Solar Energy Association; the Hawaii Renewable Energy Association; the Life of the Land; and the County Energy Offices; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Power Quality Task Force is requested to determine:

(1) Who is currently measuring power quality;

(2) Whether power quality should be increased;

(3) Which agency or agencies have regulatory authority over power quality;

(4) What are the root causes of poor power quality;

(5) Whether legislation is needed to improve power quality;

(6) Whether equipment should be added to the electric grid to strengthen power quality;

(7) What agency should handle poor power quality grievances;

(8) Whether interconnection nodes should have monitoring devices to obtain power quality measurements; and

(9) Whether such measurements can be used to determine whether non-utility generators increase or decrease power quality;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to file interim reports of the Power Quality Task Force with the Legislature at least twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Sessions of 2003 and 2004, and the final report at least twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission; the Director of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; the Consumer Advocate; Puna Geothermal Ventures; the President of the Hawaii Solar Energy Association; the President of the Hawaii Renewable Energy Association; the President of Life of the Land; and the County Energy Offices.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

PUC; Power Quality Task Force