Report Title:

Electricity; wheeling; renewable energy

Description:

Allows government agencies to engage in wheeling, a concept in which electricity generated by a non-utility producer is transmitted over electric public utility transmission lines to another location. (HB2966 HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2966

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO ELECTRICITY.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii relies on imported oil to meet over ninety per cent of the State's energy needs, leaving Hawaii critically vulnerable to supply interruptions and oil price volatility. Hawaii must encourage the use of indigenous, renewable energy resources for economic stability, energy security, and environmental health.

The legislature finds that renewable energy production would be encouraged if government agencies, as renewable energy producers, are allowed to transmit electricity to other facilities owned by the same governmental entity over existing transmission lines of an electric public utility, a concept known as "wheeling."

The purpose of this Act is to promote government agency production of renewable energy by requiring electric public utilities to transmit electricity produced by a government agency over existing utility transmission lines to other locations owned or operated by the same government agency.

SECTION 2. Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§269-    Wheeling; renewable energy; government agencies; rules. (a) A government agency may engage in wheeling of electricity produced by its facilities from renewable energy resources.

(b) The commission may disallow a wheeling project if the commission determines that the project is either:

(1) Detrimental to the electric utility company; or

(2) Not in the public interest.

(c) The commission may adopt rules to effectuate the purposes of this section.

(d) As used in this section:

"Electric utility company" means a public utility as defined under section 269-1, for the production, conveyance, transmission, delivery, or furnishing of electric power.

"Government agency" means any federal, state, or county executive department, independent commission, board, bureau, office, or other government establishment, or any quasi-public institution that is supported in whole or part by government funds.

"Renewable energy" shall have the same meaning as in section 269-91.

"Wheeling" means the use of an electric transmission system or distribution facility that is owned, controlled, or leased by an electric utility company to transmit electricity between facilities commonly owned by a government entity."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.