STAND. COM. REP. NO.  57

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 193

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 193 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY-EFFICIENCY PORTFOLIO STANDARDS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Amend the State's energy-efficiency portfolio standards by extending the final deadline from 2030 to 2045 and basing the goals on cumulative persisting electricity savings rather than electricity use reductions;

 

     (2)  Authorize the Public Utilities Commission to establish interim goals; and

 

     (3)  Clarify that certain demand response programs and related activities count toward the portfolio standards.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii State Energy Office, Ulupono Initiative, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Blue Planet Foundation, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, Hawaii Energy, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and four individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaiian Electric.

 

     Your Committee finds that as Hawaii progresses toward achieving its renewable energy and decarbonization goals, energy efficiency remains the most cost-effective way to reduce emissions associated with electricity generation and consumption, while providing financial benefits for customers.  Therefore, it is appropriate to extend the State's energy-efficiency goals by ensuring that the Public Utilities Commission can continue its work developing and overseeing the State's energy-efficiency portfolio standards beyond 2030.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting language that would have required certain demand response programs and related activities conducted by electric utility companies to count toward the portfolio standards;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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 H.B. No. 193, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 193, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair