Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HB789 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 789 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to energy assistance. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 789
4	4	THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
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7	7	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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9	9	H.B. NO.
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13	13	THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	relating to energy assistance.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's electricity rates are among the highest in the nation, at close to three times the national average, and vary based on availability of renewable resources, power plants, fuel costs, and pricing regulations. The 2022 report commissioned by Aloha United Way, "ALICE in Hawaii: 2022 Facts and Figures", states that forty-four per cent of households in the State live below the ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) threshold, meaning that almost one-half of all families in Hawaii are struggling to make ends meet, even though they are employed. The number of electric utility customers in arrears and facing disconnection is higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, with thousands of customers collectively owing millions of dollars. In addition, electricity needs are expected to increase due to rising climate temperatures and associated home cooling needs. During the regular session of 2022, the legislature adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 242, S.D. 1, which requested the creation of a Hawaii state low-income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) working group. As noted in a December 2022 report to the legislature submitted by the public utilities commission, the federal LIHEAP administered by the department of human services, a program designed to provide energy assistance to families, served fewer than nine thousand households in Hawaii in 2020, or about two per cent of the State's population potentially eligible for energy assistance based on income. The State received the lowest amount of federal funding for federal LIHEAP of all states in fiscal year 2021-2022. According to estimates from the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition, Hawaii received 0.14 per cent of federal LIHEAP funds in fiscal year 2021-2022, roughly half of the next-lowest state. Funding for states is determined based on a formula developed in 1984, which inherently favors states with large heating needs and does not consider specific electricity prices within states. The legislature further finds that in addition to the limited financial assistance available through the department of human services from the federal LIHEAP program, the public utilities commission's public benefits fee administrator plays a vital role in ensuring that all available state and federal benefits and rebate programs are being utilized by providing opportunities and solutions for Hawaii residents and businesses to save money and energy. The legislature also finds that the State must commit to efforts that provide assistance to low-income households that are directly impacted due to the high cost of electricity. The purpose of this Act is to establish within the department of human services a Hawaii home energy assistance program similar to the federal LIHEAP program that will allow participants to receive not only financial assistance to meet their home energy needs but also valuable information and assistance from the public utilities commission's public benefits fee administrator about making their homes more energy efficient to reduce their cost of electricity. SECTION 2. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§346- Hawaii home energy assistance program; established. (a) There is established within the department the Hawaii home energy assistance program. Subject to the availability of program funds, the program may assist eligible households with payment of the costs associated with meeting an eligible household's home energy needs. (b) To apply for assistance through the Hawaii home energy assistance program, a person shall submit an application on a form prescribed by the department that includes, at a minimum, documentation to prove that the person: (1) Is a resident of the State; (2) Has an active utilities account in the State; and (3) Satisfies the income eligibility limit and all other eligibility standards established by the department in rules adopted pursuant to subsection (d). (c) The public benefits fee administrator established pursuant to section 269-122, in consultation with the department, shall provide information and technical assistance about available energy efficiency programs to recipients, including an energy audit at the request of a recipient, and assist recipients with implementation of energy efficiency improvements, in accordance with section 269-123(b). (d) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to implement 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 under part VI of chapter 196 about the appliance efficiency standards established under that part to improve compliance[.]; and (9) Providing information and technical assistance about available energy efficiency programs to recipients of the Hawaii home energy assistance program, including an energy audit if requested by the recipient, and assisting the recipients with implementation of energy efficiency improvements." SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position and two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) temporary positions, make system modifications, and contract for services for the purposes of implementing the Hawaii home energy assistance program. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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49	49	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's electricity rates are among the highest in the nation, at close to three times the national average, and vary based on availability of renewable resources, power plants, fuel costs, and pricing regulations. The 2022 report commissioned by Aloha United Way, "ALICE in Hawaii: 2022 Facts and Figures", states that forty-four per cent of households in the State live below the ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) threshold, meaning that almost one-half of all families in Hawaii are struggling to make ends meet, even though they are employed. The number of electric utility customers in arrears and facing disconnection is higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, with thousands of customers collectively owing millions of dollars. In addition, electricity needs are expected to increase due to rising climate temperatures and associated home cooling needs.
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51	51	During the regular session of 2022, the legislature adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 242, S.D. 1, which requested the creation of a Hawaii state low-income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) working group. As noted in a December 2022 report to the legislature submitted by the public utilities commission, the federal LIHEAP administered by the department of human services, a program designed to provide energy assistance to families, served fewer than nine thousand households in Hawaii in 2020, or about two per cent of the State's population potentially eligible for energy assistance based on income. The State received the lowest amount of federal funding for federal LIHEAP of all states in fiscal year 2021-2022. According to estimates from the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition, Hawaii received 0.14 per cent of federal LIHEAP funds in fiscal year 2021-2022, roughly half of the next-lowest state. Funding for states is determined based on a formula developed in 1984, which inherently favors states with large heating needs and does not consider specific electricity prices within states.
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53	53	The legislature further finds that in addition to the limited financial assistance available through the department of human services from the federal LIHEAP program, the public utilities commission's public benefits fee administrator plays a vital role in ensuring that all available state and federal benefits and rebate programs are being utilized by providing opportunities and solutions for Hawaii residents and businesses to save money and energy. The legislature also finds that the State must commit to efforts that provide assistance to low-income households that are directly impacted due to the high cost of electricity.
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55	55	The purpose of this Act is to establish within the department of human services a Hawaii home energy assistance program similar to the federal LIHEAP program that will allow participants to receive not only financial assistance to meet their home energy needs but also valuable information and assistance from the public utilities commission's public benefits fee administrator about making their homes more energy efficient to reduce their cost of electricity.
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57	57	SECTION 2. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
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59	59	"§346- Hawaii home energy assistance program; established. (a) There is established within the department the Hawaii home energy assistance program. Subject to the availability of program funds, the program may assist eligible households with payment of the costs associated with meeting an eligible household's home energy needs.
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61	61	(b) To apply for assistance through the Hawaii home energy assistance program, a person shall submit an application on a form prescribed by the department that includes, at a minimum, documentation to prove that the person:
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63	63	(1) Is a resident of the State;
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65	65	(2) Has an active utilities account in the State; and
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67	67	(3) Satisfies the income eligibility limit and all other eligibility standards established by the department in rules adopted pursuant to subsection (d).
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69	69	(c) The public benefits fee administrator established pursuant to section 269-122, in consultation with the department, shall provide information and technical assistance about available energy efficiency programs to recipients, including an energy audit at the request of a recipient, and assist recipients with implementation of energy efficiency improvements, in accordance with section 269-123(b).
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71	71	(d) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to implement this section."
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73	73	SECTION 3. Section 269-123, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
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75	75	"(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:
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77	77	(1) Identifying, developing, administering, promoting, implementing, and evaluating programs, methods, and technologies that support energy-efficiency and demand-side management programs;
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79	79	(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;
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81	81	(3) Using the energy-efficiency expertise and capabilities that have developed or may develop in the State and consulting with state agency experts;
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83	83	(4) Promoting program initiatives, incentives, and market strategies that address the needs of persons facing the most significant barriers to participation;
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85	85	(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;
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87	87	(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;
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89	89	(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]
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91	91	(8) Educating and training appliance manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of appliances covered under part VI of chapter 196 about the appliance efficiency standards established under that part to improve compliance[.]; and
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93	93	(9) Providing information and technical assistance about available energy efficiency programs to recipients of the Hawaii home energy assistance program, including an energy audit if requested by the recipient, and assisting the recipients with implementation of energy efficiency improvements."
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95	95	SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position and two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) temporary positions, make system modifications, and contract for services for the purposes of implementing the Hawaii home energy assistance program.
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97	97	The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
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99	99	SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
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101	101	SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
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105	105	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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107	107	INTRODUCED BY:
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109	109	_____________________________
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111	111	Report Title: DHS; PUC; Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program; Appropriation Description: Establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist households in paying their energy bills. Requires the Public Utilities Commission's Public Benefits Fee Administrator to provide information and technical assistance about available energy efficiency programs to recipients of the program. Appropriates funds. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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117	117	Report Title:
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119	119	DHS; PUC; Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program; Appropriation
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123	123	Description:
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125	125	Establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist households in paying their energy bills. Requires the Public Utilities Commission's Public Benefits Fee Administrator to provide information and technical assistance about available energy efficiency programs to recipients of the program. Appropriates funds.
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133	133	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.