STAND. COM. REP. NO.  312-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2227

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2227, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Authorize the Chief Energy Officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office, instead of the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to adopt rules to enforce minimum efficiency standards for certain products and establish or amend appliance efficiency standards in certain situations; and

 

     (2)  Regulate the appliance efficiency standards for air purifiers and portable electric spas.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaii Energy, Pono Hawaii Initiative, and Blue Planet Foundation.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers and Information Technology Industry Council.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Consumer Technology Association and Plumbing Manufacturers International.

     Your Committee finds that in 2019, legislation was enacted to establish minimum efficiency standards for certain products sold, leased, or rented in Hawaii.  Those standards are estimated to result in more than $500,000,000 in cumulative utility bills savings over the next fifteen years.  Expanding the list of products requiring minimum efficiency standards can help save millions of dollars in utility bills annually and offer even more benefits for Hawaii residents.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2227, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair