STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2616

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2809
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B.
No. 2809, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES
     COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to clarify how consumer
complaints and inquiries concerning public utilities are handled.

     The measure clarifies that: (1) the consumer advocate will
assist consumers in complaints relating to public utilities and
monitor the Public Utilities Commission's handling of consumer
complaints, and (2) the Public Utilities Commission shall
establish a centralized clearing house of information concerning
consumer complaints and inquiries on public utilities issues.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will help not only
consumers, but also the Consumer Advocate, the Public Utilities
Commission, and the Office of Consumer Protection by defining the
Public Utilities Commission's responsibility for addressing
complaints and inquiries from the public.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2616
                                   Page 2


Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
2809, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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