STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1174

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 1316

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 1316, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage the use of electric vehicles in Hawaii by requiring the board of directors of a cooperative housing corporation, planned community association, association of apartment owners, or condominium association, upon receipt of a request for the installation of an electric vehicle charging system, to make a decision to approve, or approve with restrictions, the request within sixty days.

     To ensure comprehensive and accurate cost and impact of installation, the request must be accompanied by supporting documentation on the current transformer load capacity and a current energy audit.

The Blue Planet Foundation, Hawaiian Electric Vehicle Network, and a concerned individual supported the measure.  The Ulupono Initiative supported the measure with amendments.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; EV Structure; and a concerned individual submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the requirement that the decision of the board of directors of a cooperative housing corporation, planned community association, association of apartment owners, or condominium association to approve, or approve with reasonable restrictions, a request for installation of the electric vehicle charging system is contingent upon receipt of supporting documentation and a current energy audit;

     (2)  Strongly suggesting that the board of directors of a cooperative housing corporation, planned community association, association of apartment owners, or condominium association, consider supporting documentation and a current energy audit;

     (3)  Clarifying that the current energy audit is to ascertain if the electrical system to which the electric vehicle charging station will be connected is capable of handling the increased demands of the system in addition to the current demands of the system; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1316, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1316, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair