HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

45

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

Urging the Public utilities commission to REEVALUATE and adopt administrative rules relating to the removal of abandoned or double utility poles, lines, and equipment.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission regulates all chartered, franchised, certificated, and registered public utility companies operating in the State; and

 

WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission's administrative rules adopted the 2002 edition of the National Electrical Safety Code as it pertains to the installation, operation, and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical supply and communication lines; and

 

WHEREAS, the 2002 edition of the National Electrical Safety Code states that "[l]ines and equipment permanently abandoned shall be removed or maintained in a safe condition"; and

 

WHEREAS, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (Hawaiian Electric) is a utility company in the State that provides electric services via lines using wooden poles within existing county and state street rights-of-way to residential communities and businesses; and

 

WHEREAS, Hawaiian Electric owns over 120,000 utility poles on the island of Oahu; and

 

WHEREAS, when a new utility pole is installed adjacent to an existing utility pole for the purpose of transferring electric, telephone, cable, or other wires from one pole to another, the original pole is often left in place, resulting in what is referred to as double poles; and

 

     WHEREAS, there are thousands of derelict utility poles, double poles, and utility lines abandoned across Hawaii neighborhoods; and

 

WHEREAS, the derelict utility and communication lines, abandoned utility poles, and redundant double poles should be removed in a timely manner due to their growing threat to public safety; and

 

WHEREAS, the removal of unnecessary and unsightly derelict lines and poles will eliminate a potential public hazard, organize communication and utility pole lines, and favorably influence the surrounding community; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that the Public Utilities Commission is urged to reevaluate and adopt administrative rules relating to the removal of abandoned lines, double poles, and equipment; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to adopt updated provisions of the National Electrical Safety Code to streamline the removal of double poles and other unsafe abandoned equipment; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Commissioners of the Public Utilities Commission and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

PUC; Hawaiian Electric; Abandoned Poles; Utility Poles