House committee advances renewable‑gas tariff, retail wheeling changes, school power‑outage aid and energy reporting bill

The House Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection voted March 11 to advance a package of energy bills with committee amendments that the panel’s chair said were intended to accelerate renewable options, encourage distributed energy resources (DERs) and fund school resilience during planned power outages.

The committee adopted amendments to SB 1220 (renewable gas tariff), SB 589 (retail wheeling and microgrid service tariffs), SB 533 (support for public schools impacted by planned public safety power shutoffs), and SB 1341 (energy industry information reporting). The committee recorded that it would post red‑line text and committee reports ahead of later stages.

SB 1220 (renewable gas tariff) The committee adopted the consumer advocate’s suggested amendment, made technical edits for clarity, and adjusted the effective date language. Committee members said the bill creates a streamlined path for gas utilities to offer a voluntary renewable gas tariff without a full general rate case; Hawaii Gas had testified that a rate case can cost $2–3 million and delay a tariff for years. The committee asked that technical amendments be included in the committee report. The committee report will note the vice chair’s reservations from public testimony.

SB 589 (retail wheeling and microgrid service tariffs) The committee added the DER installation goal from companion legislation (HB 790) and revised compensation language to remove the word ‘‘fair’’ and instead require that rates ‘‘be sufficient to encourage deployment of DERs’’ and that compensation ‘‘be sufficient to encourage participation in grid services programs.’’ Supporters said the changes create a clear policy direction for the Public Utilities Commission and for programs such as BYOD (bring‑your‑own‑device) and CBRE (community‑based renewable energy). Opponents, including Hawaiian Electric and others, urged that ongoing PUC dockets address many aspects of wheeling and warned of unintended cost shifting; proponents of rooftop solar and storage urged clearer compensation to attract customer participation.

SB 533 (public school support during planned power outages) Committee members converted the original language into a general‑fund appropriation to the Department of Education to support schools impacted by utilities’ planned public safety power shutoff programs. The committee added specific purposes for the appropriation: assess alternative power solutions, evaluate feasibility of regional emergency hubs, develop contingency plans and training to maintain operations during outages, assess fire safety measures, and develop accommodations for electricity‑dependent students and staff. The committee noted DOE recommended $1,000,000 per year in the committee report.

SB 1341 (energy industry information reporting) The committee passed the bill as introduced; it adds HIEMA and the Office of Homeland Security as agencies that may examine energy‑industry information statements submitted under HRS §486J‑3 and adds emergency management and critical‑infrastructure protection as explicit program purposes.

What the committee did not do The committee did not finalize detailed tariff or rate designs. For SB 589 the PUC continues to oversee technical implementation through existing and ongoing dockets, and the committee directed that compensation frameworks be designed to encourage DER deployment and grid‑services participation.

Votes at a glance - SB 1220 SD2: Passed with amendments; committee adopted consumer‑advocate suggested amendment and technical edits; effective date language adjusted. (Chair moved; committee recorded adoption; detailed roll call not provided in hearing transcript.) - SB 589 SD1: Passed with amendments to add DER installation goal and to require compensation sufficient to encourage DER deployment and grid services participation. (Chair moved; committee recorded adoption.) - SB 533 SD2: Passed with amendments converting policy language to a DOE general‑fund appropriation; committee to note DOE suggested $1,000,000 per fiscal year in report. - SB 1341: Passed as introduced.

Next steps: Committee staff will publish amendment text and committee reports. Bills that passed the committee will proceed to the next stage of legislative consideration per the House calendar.