Bill Text: HI SB3045 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Energy; Public Utilities Commission; Electric Utility Companies; Purchase of Coal for Power Generation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-29 - Referred to CPH/TRE, WAM. [SB3045 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-SB3045-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3045 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to THE public utilities commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that burning coal emits harmful waste such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphuric acids, arsenic, and ash. Coal also emits twice as much carbon dioxide when compared with natural gas to produce the same level of heat, which increases the levels of harmful greenhouse gases emitted into the earth's atmosphere. Carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels now account for about sixty-five per cent of the extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The purpose of this Act is to prohibit electric utilities from purchasing coal as a power source.
SECTION 2. Section 269-16.22, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§269-16.22[]] Power
purchase agreements; cost recovery for electric utilities. (a) All
power purchase costs, including costs related to capacity, operations and
maintenance, and other costs that are incurred by an electric utility company,
arising out of power purchase agreements that have been approved by the public
utilities commission and are binding obligations on the electric utility
company, shall be allowed to be recovered by the utility from the customer base
of the electric utility company through one or more adjustable surcharges,
which shall be established by the public utilities commission. The costs shall
be allowed to be recovered if incurred as a result of such agreements unless,
after review by the public utilities commission, any such costs are determined
by the commission to have been incurred in bad faith, out of waste, out of an
abuse of discretion, or in violation of law. For purposes of this section, an
"electric utility company" means a public utility as defined under
section 269-1, for the production, conveyance, transmission, delivery, or
furnishing of electric power.
(b) Beginning January 1, 2023, and thereafter, no electric utility company shall be allowed to recover costs under subsection (a) from the purchase of coal.
(c) No power purchase agreement under subsection (a) shall be approved by the public utilities commission, if the agreement is for the purchase of coal for the generation of electricity occurring after December 31, 2022."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Energy; Public Utilities Commission; Electric Utility Companies; Purchase of Coal for Power Generation
Description:
Prohibits electric utility companies from recovering costs from the customer base for the purchase of coal beginning January 1, 2023. Prohibits power purchase agreements from being approved by the public utilities commission if the agreement is for the purchase of coal for the generation of electricity occurring after December 31, 2022.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
