Bill Text: HI HB555 | 2021 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Consumer Protection.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-19 - Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with Representative(s) Holt voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) McDermott, Okimoto voting no (2) and Representative(s) Har, Kong, Matayoshi excused (3). [HB555 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2021-HB555-Amended.html
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
555 |
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii businesses and residents pay among the highest electricity rates in the nation, which exacerbates the State's already high cost of living and increases the monthly financial burdens on businesses and residents. The legislature further finds that the high cost of living in Hawaii reinforces the importance of adopting policies that promote and encourage energy efficiency, which can provide relief for families and businesses faced with high utility bills.
Since 1980, the Federal Trade Commission has administered the EnergyGuide labeling program aimed at assisting consumers in understanding how much energy a given household appliance uses and the ongoing energy costs associated with operating the appliance. However, the EnergyGuide labels do not accurately reflect the energy costs of appliances in Hawaii because the labels are based on national average energy prices and national average usage of appliances. Since electricity rates in Hawaii are nearly triple the national average, the current in-store labeling system does not accurately convey the costs and potential savings associated with certain appliances when operated in Hawaii. The legislature further finds that by displaying information in retail stores about available rebates and Hawaii-specific operating costs of certain appliances, consumers can make informed decisions about which models most align with their economic situation and preferences.
The purpose of this Act is to require retailers of certain household appliances to display signage with available rebates and Hawaii-specific operating costs.
SECTION 2. Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part V to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§196- Signage
for household appliances; retailers; rebates. (a) All retailers of household appliances specified
in subsection (b) doing business in the State shall conspicuously display signage
or text that informs consumers of the following:
(1) Available energy efficiency rebates funded by the public utilities fee; and
(2) Hawaii-specific
energy costs for operation based on a 2020 statewide average residential electricity
cost, and subsequent updates based on a statewide average residential electricity
cost for the prior calendar year.
(b) Subsection (a) shall apply only to household appliances
that appear on a retailer's showroom floor and the categories of household appliances
that are required, as of July 1, 2021, to be packaged with a Federal Trade Commission
EnergyGuide label.
(c) The public benefits fee administrator shall create a template for the display signage or text required in this section. The template shall be made available to retailers no later than January 1, 2022. Retailers shall display the required signage or text no later than July 1, 2022.
(d) The public benefits fee administrator shall update the template for the display signage or text required in this section every three years, at a minimum. New household appliances entering the Hawaii market between update cycles shall be appropriately labeled pursuant to this section upon appearance on the showroom floor.
(e) The Hawaii state energy office shall:
(1) Publish on its website
the requirements of this section; and
(2) Provide a draft notification letter for the public benefits fee administrator to distribute to its extensive list of retail establishments regarding the requirements of this section."
SECTION 3. Section 269-123, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) The public benefits
fee administrator's duties and responsibilities shall be established by the
public utilities commission by rule or order, and may include:
(1) Identifying,
developing, administering, promoting, implementing, and evaluating programs,
methods, and technologies that support energy-efficiency and demand-side
management programs;
(2) Encouraging
the continuance or improvement of efficiencies made in the production,
delivery, and use of energy-efficiency and demand-side management programs and
services;
(3) Using
the energy-efficiency expertise and capabilities that have developed or may develop
in the State and consulting with state agency experts;
(4) Promoting
program initiatives, incentives, and market strategies that address the needs
of persons facing the most significant barriers to participation;
(5) Promoting
coordinated program delivery, including coordination with electric public utilities
regarding the delivery of low-income home energy assistance, other demand-side
management or energy-efficiency programs, and any utility programs;
(6) Consideration
of innovative approaches to delivering demand-side management and
energy-efficiency services, including strategies to encourage third-party
financing and customer contributions to the cost of demand-side management and
energy-efficiency services;
(7) Submitting,
to the public utilities commission for review and approval, a multi-year budget
and planning cycle that promotes program improvement, program stability, and
maturation of programs and delivery resources; and
(8) Educating
and training appliance manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of appliances
[covered]:
(A) Covered under part VI of chapter 196 about the appliance efficiency standards established under that part; and
(B) Covered
under section 196- about the energy efficiency and energy cost
information required to be displayed under that section; provided that the public
benefits fee administrator shall create and update a template for the display signage
or text as required by section 196- (c) and (d),
to improve compliance."
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Retailers; Household Appliances; Energy Efficiency Rebates; Energy Costs; Signage
Description:
Requires retailers of household appliances to conspicuously display available energy efficiency rebates funded by the public benefits fee and state-specific energy operation costs. Requires the public benefits fee administrator to create and update the template to be used by retailers. Requires the Hawaii state energy office to publish signage requirements for household appliances on its website and provide a draft notification letter to the administrator to be distributed to retailers. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.