reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
HI Rev Stat § 269-17 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-17 Issuance of securities.

 §269-17 Issuance of securities. A public utility corporation may, on securing the prior approval of the public utilities commission, and not otherwise, issue stocks and stock certificates, bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness, payable at periods of more than twelve months after the date thereof, for the following purposes and no other, namely: for the acquisition of property or for the construction, completion, extension, or improvement of or addition to its facilities or service, or for the discharge or lawful refunding of its obligations or for the reimbursement of moneys actually expended from income or from any other moneys in its treasury not secured by or obtained from the issue of its stocks or stock certificates, or bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, for any of the aforesaid purposes except maintenance of service, replacements, and substitutions not constituting capital expenditure in cases where the corporation has kept its accounts for such expenditures in such manner as to enable the commission to ascertain the amount of moneys so expended and the purposes for which the expenditures were made, and the sources of the funds in its treasury applied to the expenditures. As used herein, "property" and "facilities", mean property and facilities used in all operations of a public utility corporation whether or not included in its public utility operations or rate base. A public utility corporation may not issue securities to acquire property or to construct, complete, extend or improve or add to its facilities or service if the commission determines that the proposed purpose will have a material adverse effect on its public utility operations.  All stock and every stock certificate, and every bond, note, or other evidence of indebtedness of a public utility corporation not payable within twelve months, issued without an order of the commission authorizing the same, then in effect, shall be void. [L 1933, c 169, pt of §4; RL 1935, §7955; RL 1945, §4716; RL 1955, §104-16; HRS §269-17; am L 1969, c 276, §1] Cross References  Administrative procedure, see chapter 91. Case Notes  Contract for lease of land, which was not a loan and which was not a method of generating capital was not an evidence of indebtedness. 64 H. 289, 639 P.2d 1103 (1982).  Cited: 44 H. 634, 635, 361 P.2d 390 (1961); 47 H. 1, 7, 384 P.2d 536 (1963).
HI Rev Stat § 269-17.5 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-17.5 Issuance of voting stock; restrictions.

 §269-17.5 Issuance of voting stock; restrictions. (a) For purposes of this section "foreign corporation" means a foreign corporation as defined in section 235-1 or a corporation in which a majority of the voting stock is held by a single foreign corporation as defined in section 235-1.  (b) "Nonresident alien" means a person not a citizen of the United States who is not defined as a resident alien by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.  (c) No more than twenty-five per cent of the issued and outstanding voting stock of a corporation organized under the laws of the State and who owns, controls, operates, or manages any plant or equipment, or any part thereof, as a public utility within the definition set forth in section 269-1 shall be held, whether directly or indirectly, by any single foreign corporation or any single nonresident alien, or held by any person, unless prior written approval is obtained from the public utilities commission, or unless a transaction is exempt. An exempt transaction is:  (1) Any purchase or sale by an underwriter;  (2) Any transaction involving a public utility providing basic exchange service to every county in the State that consists of less than fifty per cent of the issued and outstanding voting stock of a corporation organized under the laws of the State; or  (3) A transaction to acquire shares of a corporation with less than one hundred shareholders and less than $1,000,000 in assets. Every assignment, transfer, contract, or agreement for assignment or transfer of any shares in violation of this section shall be void and of no effect; and no such transfer shall be made on the books of the corporation. Nothing herein shall be construed to make illegal the holding of stock lawfully held, directly or indirectly, prior to June 4, 1977. [L 1977, c 168, §2; am L 1998, c 73, §1; am L 2005, c 22, §11; am L 2019, c 229, §2]
HI Rev Stat § 269-18 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-18 Acquirement of stock of another public utility.

 §269-18 Acquirement of stock of another public utility. No public utility corporation shall purchase or acquire, take or hold, any part of the capital stock of any other public utility corporation, organized or existing under or by virtue of the laws of the State, without having been first authorized to do so by the order of the public utilities commission. Every assignment, transfer, contract, or agreement for assignment or transfer of any stock by or through any person or corporation to any corporation or otherwise in violation of this section shall be void and of no effect; and no such transfer shall be made on the books of any public utility. Nothing herein shall be construed to make illegal the holding of stock lawfully acquired before July 1, 1933. [L 1933, c 169, pt of §4; RL 1935, §7956; RL 1945, §4717; RL 1955, §104-17; HRS §269-18] Case Notes  State-federal jurisdiction over interisland air transportation. 235 F. Supp. 990 (1964); 47 H. 1, 87, 384 P.2d 536 (1963).
HI Rev Stat § 269-19 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-19 Merger and consolidation of public utilities.

 §269-19 Merger and consolidation of public utilities. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), no public utility shall sell, lease, assign, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of or encumber the whole or any part of its road, line, plant, system, or other property necessary or useful in the performance of its duties to the public, or any franchise or permit, or any right thereunder, nor by any means, directly or indirectly, merge or consolidate with any other public utility without first having secured from the public utilities commission an order authorizing it so to do. Every such sale, lease, assignment, mortgage, disposition, encumbrance, merger, or consolidation, made other than in accordance with the order of the commission shall be void.  (b) A public utility, under circumstances that it deems exigent and in its judgment require a response that rapidly restores one of its customers to normal, or near normal, operating status in order to prevent serious disruption of essential public services, or avoid serious risk to public safety, or to mitigate severe economic losses to that customer, may transfer, assign, or otherwise dispose of its property without prior approval from the public utilities commission as required in subsection (a); provided that in so doing:  (1) The public utility does not unduly hinder or degrade the public utility's operation with respect to its services or other customers;  (2) The public utility is duly compensated for its property; and  (3) The public utility reports in detail to the public utilities commission within thirty days of any such action unless otherwise approved by the public utilities commission for good cause shown.  For purposes of this subsection, "property" does not include real property. [L 1933, c 169, pt of §4; RL 1935, §7957; RL 1945, §4718; RL 1955, §104-18; HRS §269-19; am L 2008, c 7, §2] Case Notes  Section applies to lease of air space above land used by a public utility, and approval of commission must be obtained. 54 H. 402, 507 P.2d 755 (1973).  PUC did not fail to protect public interest with regard to HECO's contract for purchase of land in Heeia Kea. 64 H. 289, 639 P.2d 1103 (1982).  Unsecured obligation to make payments in future is not an encumbrance. 64 H. 289, 639 P.2d 1103 (1982).
HI Rev Stat § 269-20 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-20 Certificates of public convenience and necessity for water carriers.

 §269-20 Certificates of public convenience and necessity for water carriers. (a) No person which holds itself out to the general public to engage in the transportation by water of passengers or property or any class or classes thereof for compensation, between points in the State of Hawaii, shall operate unless there is in force with respect to such carrier a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the commission authorizing such transportation; provided that this section shall not apply to any carrier by water to the extent that the carrier is excluded from the definition of a public utility under section [269-1(2)(E) and (F)].  (b) Applications for certificates shall be made in writing under oath to the commission in such form as it requires.  (c) A certificate shall be issued to any qualified applicant therefor, authorizing the whole or any part of the operations covered by the application, if it is found that the applicant is fit, willing, and able properly to perform the service proposed and to conform to the provisions of this chapter and the requirements, rules and regulations of the commission thereunder, and that the proposed service, to the extent authorized by the certificate, is or will be required by the present or future public convenience and necessity; otherwise such application shall be denied. Any certificate issued shall specify the service to be rendered and the routes and ports which the water carrier is to serve and there shall be attached to the exercise of the privileges granted by the certificate, at the time of issuance and from time to time thereafter, such reasonable conditions and limitations as the public convenience and necessity may require.  (d) The commission may at any time suspend, change or revoke such certificate in the manner provided in section 271-19. [L 1933, c 169, pt of §4; RL 1945, §4719; am L 1945, c 189, §1; am L 1949, c 366, §2; RL 1955, §104-19; HRS §269-20; am L 1969, c 55, §1] Revision Note  Provisions of subsection (c) authorizing the issuance of a certificate to a carrier under L 1969, c 55, §1, deleted as obsolete. Case Notes  Acceptance of certificate and benefits, estops holder from contesting validity of law under which certificate issued. 33 H. 813 (1936).  Certificate within police power; not a franchise. 34 H. 52 (1936).  Ownership of franchise does not prevent application for a certificate for other purposes. 40 H. 579 (1954).  Regulation of depreciation practice of utilities; scope of court's review of commission order. 42 H. 233 (1957).
HI Rev Stat § 269-24 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-24 REPEALED.

 §269-24 REPEALED. L 1981, c 167, §2.
HI Rev Stat § 269-25 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-25 Valuations.

 §269-25 Valuations. The public utilities commission may either upon its own motion or upon application by any utility for any order where the commission deems it advisable and to the best interest of the public and the utility cause a valuation to be made to ascertain for any purpose specified in this chapter the value of the property of any public utility and every fact and element of value which in its judgment may or does have any bearing on such value. The commission may make revaluations and ascertain the value of all additions, betterments, extensions, and acquisitions of property of any public utility. [L 1933, c 169, pt of §4; RL 1935, §7960; RL 1945, §4721; RL 1955, §104-22; HRS §269-25]
HI Rev Stat § 269-26 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-26 Investigation of water rates charged by lessee under state leases.

 §269-26 Investigation of water rates charged by lessee under state leases. The public utilities commission shall investigate charges made by all persons for water supplied to consumers for domestic uses and purposes, where the water supplied is secured by virtue of a lease from the State, requiring rates to be fixed by the licensee with the approval of the department of land and natural resources. If it appears upon investigation that the water supplied to consumers for domestic uses and purposes is by virtue of a lease requiring rates to be fixed by the licensee, with the approval of the department, then the public utilities commission shall report to the department the result of the investigation, and whether the rates charged to consumers are reasonable or not. [L 1917, c 238, §1; RL 1925, §2203; RL 1935, §7961; RL 1945, §4722; RL 1955, §104-23; am L Sp 1959 2d, c 1, §21; am L 1961, c 132, §2; HRS §269-26]
HI Rev Stat § 269-26.5 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-26.5 Preferential water rates for agricultural activities.

 §269-26.5 Preferential water rates for agricultural activities. (a) It is the policy of the State to promote the long-term viability of agriculture by establishing mechanisms that provide for preferential rates for potable water for agricultural activities. The public utilities commission shall have the authority to establish preferential rates for potable water used for agricultural activities in a public utility's service area.  (b) Upon receipt of a bona fide request for preferential rates for potable water to be used for agricultural activities, and proof that the customer engages in agricultural activities, a public utility shall provide proposed preferential rates for potable water to be used only for qualified agricultural activities to the public utilities commission for approval. All such rates approved by the public utilities commission shall be subsidized by the potable water rates charged to other customers of the public utility if required as determined by the public utilities commission. In reviewing the proposed preferential rates, the public utilities commission, in consultation with the department of agriculture, may establish additional criteria to qualify bona fide agribusinesses for water used solely for agricultural activities. For rate cases initiated pursuant to this section, the public utilities commission shall allow the recovery of any reasonable unamortized costs incurred by the public utility in its previous rate case; provided however, upon full amortization of these costs, rates shall be adjusted accordingly. [L 2008, c 169, §2]
HI Rev Stat § 269-26.6 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-26.6 Preferential water carrier service rates for agricultural activities.

  §269-26.6 Preferential water carrier service rates for agricultural activities. The public utilities commission may authorize preferential water carrier service rates by tariff for ratepayers that engage in agricultural activities. The application process for obtaining preferential water carrier service rates by tariff may be established by the public utilities commission. [L 2012, c 232, §2]
HI Rev Stat § 269-27 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-27 Prevention of unreasonable water rates.

 §269-27 Prevention of unreasonable water rates. In the event the public utilities commission, investigating as provided in section 269-26, reports that in its judgment the rates charged to consumers for water supplied to them for domestic uses and purposes, are not reasonable, the attorney general shall take appropriate action to secure for the consumers reasonable rates for such water, or, if the attorney general is so advised, proceed to cancel the licenses and leases of the persons charging the unreasonable rates. [L 1917, c 238, §2; RL 1925, §2204; RL 1935, §7962; RL 1945, §4723; RL 1955, §104-24; HRS §269-27; gen ch 1985]
HI Rev Stat § 269-27.1 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-27.1 Establishment of geothermal energy rates.

  §269-27.1 Establishment of geothermal energy rates. (a) The rate payable by a public utility to the producer of geothermal steam or electricity generated from geothermal steam shall be established by agreement between the public utility and the supplier, subject to approval by the public utilities commission; provided that if the public utility and the supplier fail to reach an agreement for such rate, or if the agreed upon rate is disapproved by the commission, the public utilities commission shall establish a just and reasonable rate for the geothermal steam or electricity generated from geothermal steam supplied to the public utility by the producer.  (b) The producer of geothermal steam or electricity generated from geothermal steam shall be excluded from coverage of the term "public utility" as defined in section 269-1. [L 1978, c 132, §2]
HI Rev Stat § 269-27.3 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-27.3 Preferential renewable energy rates; agricultural activities.

  §269-27.3 Preferential renewable energy rates; agricultural activities. [(a)] It is the policy of the State to promote the long-term viability of agriculture by establishing mechanisms that provide for preferential rates for the purchase of renewable energy produced in conjunction with agricultural activities. The public utilities commission shall have the authority to establish preferential rates for the purchase of renewable energy produced in conjunction with agricultural activities.  [(b)] Upon receipt of a bona fide request for preferential rates for the purchase of renewable energy produced in conjunction with agricultural activities, and proof that the renewable energy is produced in conjunction with agricultural activities, a public utility shall forward the request for preferential rates to the public utilities commission for approval. [L 2009, c 185, §2]
HI Rev Stat § 269-27.4 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-27.4 Community-based renewable energy tariffs.

  §269-27.4 Community-based renewable energy tariffs. (a) Each electric utility in the State shall file a proposed community-based renewable energy tariff or tariffs with the public utilities commission by October 1, 2015. The public utilities commission shall establish a community-based renewable energy tariff or tariffs, pursuant to section 269-16; provided that the tariff or tariffs are found to be in the public interest.  (b) Any person or entity may own or operate an eligible community-based renewable energy project or projects provided that the person or entity complies with all applicable statutes, rules, tariffs, and regulations governing the ownership and interconnection of such project or projects.  (c) As used in this section:  "Community-based renewable energy tariff" means a tariff approved by the commission that:  (1) Allows an electric utility customer to participate in an eligible renewable energy project that is providing electricity and electric grid services to the electric utility;  (2) Allows the electric utility to implement a billing arrangement to compensate those customers for the electricity and electric grid services provided to the electric utility;  (3) Is designed to provide fair compensation for electricity, electric grid services, and other benefits provided to or by the electric utility, participating ratepayers, and non-participating ratepayers; and  (4) To the extent possible, standardizes and streamlines the related interconnection processes for community-based renewable energy projects. [L 2015, c 100, §2] Note  Section is printed as enacted by L 2015, c 100, §2.
HI Rev Stat § 269-27.5 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-27.5 Construction of high-voltage electric transmission lines; hearing.

  §269-27.5 Construction of high-voltage electric transmission lines; hearing. Whenever a public utility plans to place, construct, erect, or otherwise build a new 46 kilovolt or greater high-voltage electric transmission system above the surface of the ground through any residential area, the public utilities commission shall conduct a public hearing prior to its issuance of approval thereof. Notice of the hearing shall be given in the manner provided in section 269-16 for notice of public hearings. [L 1976, c 11, §2] Case Notes  Where general public had substantial opportunity to provide input, public utilities commission had established necessary procedures by which ratepayers could manifest their consent in order to persuade commission that cost of underground routing of transmission lines was acceptable. 81 H. 459, 918 P.2d 561 (1996).
HI Rev Stat § 269-27.7 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-27.7 Preferential electricity rates; protected agriculture.

  §269-27.7 Preferential electricity rates; protected agriculture. (a) The public utilities commission may establish preferential electricity rates for agricultural activities that utilize protected agriculture to produce fruits or vegetables for distribution; provided that the protected agriculture includes reasonable efforts to incorporate cost-effective renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures.  (b) In considering preferential rates, the public utilities commission shall ensure that any subsidization being paid by other customers is limited and reasonable and shall periodically review and adjust the rate, if necessary.  (c) A public utility shall provide a request for preferential electricity rates to the public utilities commission for approval upon receipt of:  (1) A bona fide request for preferential electricity rates for agricultural activities that utilize protected agriculture to produce fruits or vegetables for distribution; and  (2) Proof that the fruits or vegetables cited in the request are produced in a manner consistent with this section.  (d) For purposes of this section, "protected agriculture" means any crop production technologies or techniques that partially or fully control a plant's micro-climate to target the particular requirements of the species; provided that the term shall not include agricultural activities that produce medical cannabis. [L 2019, c 203, §2]