| 41 | | - | WHEREAS, many low-income utility customers and retired senior citizens live on limited or fixed incomes and face tight budgets, requiring them to limit expenses; and WHEREAS, the costs of public utilities, including electricity, water, gas, telephone, and telecommunication services, are consistently rising and are difficult to limit or negotiate; and WHEREAS, the widening gaps between the rising costs of public utility services and low- or fixed incomes of certain customers and retired senior citizens make it increasingly difficult for them to live within their budgets; and WHEREAS, public utilities charging discounted rates to any one customer group may shift costs to other ratepayers or result in a subsidy that could have unintended consequences, making utility bills even less affordable to vulnerable groups of ratepayers; and WHEREAS, proactive measures are needed to help low-income customers and retired senior citizen customers maintain a reasonable quality of life despite rising, but necessary, public utility expenses; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to investigate measures to benefit vulnerable customers, such as low-income and retired customers, and identify funding sources to support social policy objectives that would prevent the shifting of costs to other ratepayers; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission. Report Title: Public Utilities; Low-Income and Retired Customers |
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| 41 | + | WHEREAS, many retired senior citizens live on fixed incomes and tight budgets, requiring them to limit expenses; and WHEREAS, the costs of public utilities, including electricity, water, gas, telephone, and telecommunication services are consistently rising and are difficult to limit or negotiate; and WHEREAS, the widening gaps between the rising costs of public utility services and fixed incomes of retired senior citizens make it increasingly difficult for retired senior citizens to live within their budgets; and WHEREAS, proactive measures are needed to help retired senior citizens maintain a reasonable quality of life despite rising, but necessary, public utility expenses; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that any public utility having a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Public Utilities Commission is requested to provide a fifty percent rate discount to any customer who is a retired senior citizen; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to assess the actions taken by public utilities and to determine whether any additional legislation is needed to ensure that retired senior citizens receive fifty percent rate discounts; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, who, in turn, is requested to distribute copies of this Concurrent Resolution to all public utilities that currently hold a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Commission. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: Public Utilities; Discount; Senior Citizens |
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