Hawaii Deregulation Bill Seeks to End HECO's Monopoly

Hawaii Resident, Mr. Ed, applauds Representative Denny Coffman of the Big Island who introduced the most important and historic piece of legislation since Hawaii became a state on January 23, 2012. A bill to deregulate Hawaii's electric utility industry, a bill to end Hawaiian Electric's monopolistic stranglehold on our electric rates and our energy future and to stabilize, unify, and ultimately to lower electric rates across the state.

Mr. Ed writes...

 The future of your children and grandchildren, and their ability to live a good life in Hawaii instead of being forced to live on the mainland, are at stake.

HB2400 Report Title: Electric Public Utilities; Operations; Rates; Energy Sources

Description: Limits the operations of any electric public utility. Requires acquisition of electricity by a power purchase agreement with an unaffiliated entity. Requires utility to purchase lowest cost non-fossil fuel generated electricity prior to purchasing fossil fuel generated electricity. Requires PUC to establish a statewide electricity rate. Exempts IRC section 501(c) (12) utilities. Prioritizes geothermal as a replacement for fossil fuel. Effective 1/01/15.

The 27 page bill states in part: "Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no electric utility company shall own or operate both the means of producing electricity and the means of conveying, transmitting, delivering, or furnishing electricity to the public."

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/bills/HB2400_.pdf

Let it be known that HECO is already ramping up its unlimited financial resources to stop this bill dead in its tracks so it can maintain its stranglehold on YOUR escalating electric bills and on Hawaii’s energy future, and to continue to burn oil for another 20 years to maintain its profits at the expense of Hawaii's people and its unique environment.

It is up to each and every electric ratepayer in Hawaii to make sure that Hawaiian Electric fails in its attempt to crush this bill, and that it gets passed by both House and Senate and signed into law by the Governor this year.

The public will have the opportunity to submit testimony by email or in person to support passage of this bill. Additional information will be forthcoming once hearings are scheduled.

Please call you senators and representatives to support this bill.

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/members/legislators.aspx?chamber=all

Please note that the on-line petition against HECO et al. is more about ending the HECO monopoly through deregulation with the help of the Federal Trade Commission than it is about the HECO-Aina Koa Pono biofuel fiasco last year so please reconsider signing the petition here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/end-hawaiis-electric-utility-monopoly-for-lower-rates-clean-energy

The future of your children and grandchildren, and their ability to live a good life in Hawaii instead of being forced to live on the mainland, are at stake.

The petition will remain on-line throughout February for additional signatures, but the petition, along with signatures, HB2400, and a cover letter, will be mailed to the Federal Trade Commission next week. Additional electronic copies will go to other key government agencies in Washington, including the White House.

Take Care, Mr. Ed

P.S. Hawaii Representative Coffman also introduced other bills related to geothermal energy.

2039 - Hawaii State Planning Act;Renewable Energy; Public Land Trust, Geothermal - Amends the Hawaii state planning act to include promoting the development of geothermal energy resources that are located on public trust land as a source of firm power to achieve state energy objectives.

2041 - Electricity; Non-fossil fuel; Geothermal; Power Purchase Agreements - Prohibits exclusivity or curtailment provisions in power purchase agreements between an electric utility and producers of electricity generated from geothermal steam or non-fossil fuel sources.

2043 - PUC - Development of renewable Energy Sources - Requires the PUC to direct electric utilities to place special emphasis on utilizing renewable energy sources when crafting integrated resource plans.

2261 - Environmental Response; Energy; and Food Security Tax - Requires that an unspecified sum be expended each year on researching viable geothermal resource subzone locations.