reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
HI Rev Stat § 269-42 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-42 Universal service program; contributions.

  §269-42 Universal service program; contributions. (a) There is established outside of the state treasury a special fund to be known as the universal service fund to be administered by the commission to implement the policies and goals of universal service. The fund shall consist of contributions from the sources identified in subsections (e) and (f). Interest earned from the balance of the fund shall become a part of the fund. The commission shall adopt rules regarding the distribution of moneys from the fund including reimbursements to carriers for providing reduced rates to low-income, elderly, residents of underserved or rural areas, or other subscribers, as authorized by the commission.  (b) The commission may allow distribution of funds directly to customers based upon a need criteria established by the commission.  (c) A telecommunications carrier or other person contributing to the universal service program may establish a surcharge which is clearly identified and explained on customers' bills to collect from customers contributions required under this section.  (d) Telecommunications carriers may compete to provide services to underserved areas using funds from the universal service program. For the purposes of this section, "underserved areas" means those areas in the State that lack or have very limited access to high capacity, advanced telecommunications networks and information services, including access to cable television.  (e) The commission shall require all telecommunications carriers to contribute to the universal service program. The commission may require a person other than a telecommunications carrier to contribute to the universal service program if, after notice and opportunity for hearing, the commission determines that the person is offering a commercial service in the State that directly benefits from the telecommunications infrastructure, and that directly competes with a telecommunications service provided in the State for which a contribution is required under this subsection.  (f) The commission shall designate the method by which the contributions under subsection (e) shall be calculated and collected. The commission shall consider basing contributions solely on the gross operating revenues from the retail provision of intrastate telecommunications services offered by the telecommunications carriers subject to the contribution. [L 1995, c 225, pt of §2; am L 1999, c 135, §3]
HI Rev Stat § 269-43 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-43 Carriers of last resort.

  §269-43 Carriers of last resort. (a) The commission may define and designate local exchange service areas where the commission has determined that providing universal service funds to a single provider will be the most appropriate way to ensure service for these areas.  (b) The commission shall determine the level of service that is appropriate for each designated local exchange service area and shall invite telecommunications providers to bid for a level of service that is appropriate. The successful bidder shall be designated the carrier of last resort for the designated local exchange service area for a period of time and upon conditions set by the commission. In determining the successful bidder, the commission shall take into consideration the level of service to be provided, the investment commitment, and the length of the agreement, in addition to the other qualifications of the bidder.  (c) The universal service fund shall also provide service drops and basic service at discounted rates to public institutions, as stated in section 269-41.  (d) The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to carry out the provisions of this section. [L 1995, c 225, pt of §2]
HI Rev Stat § 269-44 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-44 Solar water heater system standards.

  §269-44 Solar water heater system standards. Not later than July 1, 2009, or as soon as reasonably practicable, the public utilities commission shall adopt or establish by rule, tariff, or order, standards for solar water heater systems to include, but not be limited to, specifications for the performance, materials, components, durability, longevity, proper sizing, installation, and quality to promote the objectives of section 269-124. [L 2008, c 204, §3] Cross References  Systems required for new single-family residential construction, see §196-6.5.
HI Rev Stat § 269-45 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-45 Gas utility companies; renewable energy; reporting requirements.

  §269-45 Gas utility companies; renewable energy; reporting requirements. (a) Each gas utility company shall submit an annual report to the public utilities commission on or before March 31 of each year that shall include but not be limited to the following information:  (1) The percentage of total feedstock used to produce natural gas, biogas, biofuels, or biofeedstocks for use in the State that is comprised of petroleum feedstock;  (2) The percentage of total feedstock used to produce natural gas, biogas, biofuels, or biofeedstocks for use by the gas utility in the State that is comprised of non-petroleum feedstock;  (3) The energy quantity in therms of natural gas, biogas, or gallons of biofuels, or biofeedstocks produced from petroleum feedstock for use by the gas utility within the State; and  (4) The energy quantity in therms of natural gas, biogas, or gallons of biofuels, or biofeedstocks produced from non-petroleum feedstock energy for use by the gas utility in the State.  Within thirty days of receipt of the report, the public utilities commission shall submit the information required by paragraphs (1) and (2) to the legislature. Due to the proprietary nature of the information required by paragraphs (3) and (4), that information shall be held in confidence by the commission; provided that any information obtained by the commission under this section, including confidential information, shall be made available to the department of business, economic development, and tourism or its authorized representative, which shall safeguard the confidentiality of that information. The department, with its own staff and other support staff with relevant expertise and experience, shall use the information obtained under this section to effectuate the purposes and intent of chapters 125C, 196, and other relevant laws. The first report required by this section shall be for the year 2011 and shall be submitted no later than March 31, 2012.  (b) For the purposes of this section:  "Department" means the department of business, economic development, and tourism.  "Feedstock" means a material that is converted, consumed, or blended to produce an end use product.  "Non-petroleum feedstock" includes but is not limited to plant and animal fats and oils, algae and algae products, other organic material, organic waste, municipal solid waste, waste water, or sewage.  "Total feedstock" means petroleum and non-petroleum feedstock combined. [L 2010, c 30, §2]
HI Rev Stat § 269-46 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-46 Microgrids.

  §269-46 Microgrids. (a) By July 1, 2018, the public utilities commission shall open a proceeding to establish a microgrid services tariff.  (b) Any person or entity may own or operate an eligible microgrid project or projects; provided that the person or entity complies with all applicable statutes, rules, tariffs, and orders governing the ownership and interconnection of the project or projects.  (c) As used in this section:  "Microgrid project" means a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the utility's electrical grid and can connect to a public utility's electrical grid to operate in grid-connected mode and can disconnect from the grid to operate in island mode, and that:  (1) Is subject to a microgrid services tariff; and  (2) Generates or produces energy.  "Microgrid services tariff" means a tariff approved by the public utilities commission that:  (1) Is designed to provide fair compensation for electricity, electric grid services, and other benefits provided to, or by, the electric utility, the person or entity operating the microgrid, and other ratepayers;  (2) To the extent possible, standardizes and streamlines the related interconnection processes for microgrid projects; and  (3) Does not apply to a municipal utility cooperative. [L 2018, c 200, §2] Note  Natural energy laboratory of Hawaii may be designated as the first microgrid demonstration project. L 2018, c 200, §4.
HI Rev Stat § 269-47 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-47 Electric power systems data access and transparency; principles.

  §269-47 Electric power systems data access and transparency; principles. (a) The commission, in carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter, shall consider the value of improving electric power systems data access and transparency within the State in order to empower ratepayers, improve decision-making related to reliability and operational efficiency of the electric system, maximize the value of grid modernization technologies and investments, and promote innovation and economic development opportunities related to electric power systems data analysis.  (b) In advancing the public interest, the commission shall balance consumer privacy, critical infrastructure security, grid modernization, and economic innovation considerations associated with electric power systems data access and transparency, including but not limited to the following principles:  (1) Enabling ratepayers to access their energy consumption and production data;  (2) Enabling ratepayers to authorize third-party data access, and allow verification of third-party authorization through electronic signature;  (3) Increasing the amount of publicly-available data related to utility generation, transmission, and distribution systems, as well as non-utility data from third parties that provide generation or non-wire alternatives to individual customers or the grid; and  (4) Ensuring that electric power systems data is made available through simple, electronic, consistent, machine-readable formats with temporal and geographic granularity. [L 2019, c 239, §1]
HI Rev Stat § 269-48 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-48 Coal power purchase agreements; prohibited.

  §269-48 Coal power purchase agreements; prohibited. Beginning after June 30, 2020, the public utilities commission shall not approve:  (1) Any new or renewed power purchase agreement that proposes to burn or consume coal to generate electricity; or  (2) A modification of a coal power purchase agreement that proposes to extend the term or increase the amount of generation that is allowed to be produced under the existing agreement. [L 2020, c 23, §2] Cross References  Use of coal for electricity generation, see §342B-36.
HI Rev Stat § 269-51 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-51 Consumer advocate; executive director of the division of consumer advocacy.

  §269-51 Consumer advocate; executive director of the division of consumer advocacy. [(a)] The executive director of the division of consumer advocacy shall be the consumer advocate in hearings before the public utilities commission. The consumer advocate shall represent, protect, and advance the interests of all consumers, including small businesses, of utility services.  [(b)] The responsibility of the consumer advocate for advocating the interests of the consumer of utility services shall be separate and distinct from the responsibilities of the public utilities commission and those assistants employed by the commission. The consumer advocate shall have full rights to participate as a party in interest in all proceedings before the public utilities commission. [L 1976, c 124, pt of §1; am L 1982, c 204, §6; am L 1986, c 52, §1; am L 2014, c 108, §8]
HI Rev Stat § 269-52 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-52 Division of consumer advocacy; personnel.

  §269-52 Division of consumer advocacy; personnel. There shall be a division of consumer advocacy within the department of commerce and consumer affairs. The director of commerce and consumer affairs may appoint an executive director, who shall be exempt from chapter 76, and fix the executive director's compensation. The executive director shall supervise and control the operations and personnel of the division. The executive director shall be responsible for the performance of the duties imposed upon the division and shall be the consumer advocate as specified in section 269-51. The executive director may employ engineers, accountants, investigators, clerks, and stenographers as may be necessary for the performance of the consumer advocate's functions, in accordance with chapter 76; provided that:  (1) The executive director may employ up to ten utility analysts exempt from chapter 76; and  (2) Each analyst shall possess at least the minimum qualifications required of comparable experts in the relevant industry. [L 1976, c 124, pt of §1; am L 1982, c 69, §2 and c 204, §7; am L 1994, c 191, §1; am L 1995, c 196, §1; am L 2000, c 253, §150; am L 2007, c 183, §3; am L 2014, c 108, §9] Note  Restructuring of division, etc. L 2007, c 183, § §1, 2.
HI Rev Stat § 269-53 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-53 Legal counsel.

  §269-53 Legal counsel. The executive director of the division of consumer advocacy may appoint or retain, without regard to chapter 76, attorneys to provide legal services for the division of consumer advocacy. Nothing in this section precludes the director of commerce and consumer affairs or the executive director of the division of consumer advocacy from requesting and securing legal services from the attorney general and the department of the attorney general. [L 1976, c 124, pt of §1; gen ch 1985; am L 1986, c 52, §2; am L 2000, c 272, §2 and c 253, §150; am L 2014, c 108, §10]
HI Rev Stat § 269-55 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-55 Handling of complaints.

  §269-55 Handling of complaints. The consumer advocate shall counsel utility customers in the handling of consumer complaints before the public utilities commission. The public utilities commission shall provide a central clearinghouse of information by collecting and compiling all consumer complaints and inquiries concerning public utilities. [L 1976, c 124, pt of §1; am L 2000, c 217, §1]
HI Rev Stat § 269-71 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-71 Meter tampering.

  §269-71 Meter tampering. Any person who, without permission or authorization from a utility tampers with, damages, destroys, removes, connects, causes to connect, disconnects, or causes to be disconnected or bypassed any wire, cable, conductor, gas pipe, billing or collection equipment, or device on any meter, line, conduit, property, or facilities of a utility for the purpose of using unmetered services, in addition to any other penalty authorized by law, shall be liable to the utility for treble the amount of the value of the utility services used and the damages or loss of any equipment, property, or facilities of a utility. [L 1982, c 94, §1] Cross References  Criminal tampering of a utility, see § §708-825 and 708-826.  Theft of utility services, see §708-839.5.
HI Rev Stat § 269-73 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-73 Electric vehicle charging system; rebate program; administrator; establishment.

  §269-73 Electric vehicle charging system; rebate program; administrator; establishment. (a) The public utilities commission may contract with a third-party administrator to operate and manage any programs established under section 269-72. The administrator shall not be deemed to be a "governmental body" as defined in section 103D-104; provided that all moneys transferred to the third-party administrator shall have been appropriated by the legislature or shall be from funds provided by the federal government or private funding sources. The administrator shall not expend more than ten per cent of the amounts appropriated for the rebate program or other reasonable percentage determined by the public utilities commission for administration of the programs established under section 269-72.  (b) The electric vehicle charging system rebate program administrator shall be subject to regulation by the public utilities commission under any provision applicable to a public utility in sections 269-7, 269-8, 269-8.2, 269-8.5, 269-9, 269-10, 269-13, 269-15, 269-19.5, and 269-28, and shall report to the public utilities commission on a regular basis. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the electric vehicle charging system rebate program administrator shall not be an electric public utility or an electric public utility affiliate. [L 2019, c 142, pt of §2]
HI Rev Stat § 269-91 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-91 Definitions.

Law Journals and Reviews A Tale of Two Solar Installations: How Electricity Regulations Impact Distributed Generation. 38 UH L. Rev. 135 (2016).  §269-91 Definitions. For the purposes of this [part]:  "Biofuels" means liquid or gaseous fuels produced from organic sources such as biomass crops, agricultural residues and oil crops, such as palm oil, canola oil, soybean oil, waste cooking oil, grease, and food wastes, animal residues and wastes, and sewage and landfill wastes.  "Cost-effective" means the ability to produce or purchase electric energy or firm capacity, or both, from renewable energy resources at or below avoided costs or as the commission otherwise determines to be just and reasonable consistent with the methodology set by the public utilities commission in accordance with section 269-27.2.  "Electric utility company" means a public utility as defined under section 269-1, for the production, conveyance, transmission, delivery, or furnishing of power.  "Renewable electrical energy" means:  (1) Electrical energy generated using renewable energy as the source, and beginning January 1, 2015, includes customer-sited, grid-connected renewable energy generation; and  (2) Electrical energy savings brought about by:  (A) The use of renewable displacement or off-set technologies, including solar water heating, sea-water air-conditioning district cooling systems, solar air-conditioning, and customer-sited, grid-connected renewable energy systems; provided that, beginning January 1, 2015, electrical energy savings shall not include customer-sited, grid-connected renewable-energy systems; or  (B) The use of energy efficiency technologies, including heat pump water heating, ice storage, ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs, and use of rejected heat from co-generation and combined heat and power systems, excluding fossil-fueled qualifying facilities that sell electricity to electric utility companies and central station power projects.  "Renewable energy" means energy generated or produced using the following sources:  (1) Wind;  (2) The sun;  (3) Falling water;  (4) Biogas, including landfill and sewage-based digester gas;  (5) Geothermal;  (6) Ocean water, currents, and waves, including ocean thermal energy conversion;  (7) Biomass, including biomass crops, agricultural and animal residues and wastes, and municipal solid waste and other solid waste;  (8) Biofuels; and  (9) Hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources.  "Renewable portfolio standard" means the percentage of electrical energy sales that is represented by renewable electrical energy. [L 2001, c 272, §2; am L 2004, c 95, §4; am L 2006, c 162, §4; am L 2009, c 50, §3 and c 155, §2; am L 2011, c 10, §1]
HI Rev Stat § 269-93 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-93 Achieving portfolio standard.

  §269-93 Achieving portfolio standard. (a) An electric utility company and its electric utility affiliates may aggregate their renewable portfolios to achieve the renewable portfolio standard.  (b) If an electric utility company and its electric utility affiliates aggregate their renewable portfolios to achieve the renewable portfolio standard, the public utilities commission may distribute, apportion, or allocate the costs and expenses of all or any portion of the respective renewable portfolios among the electric utility company, its electric utility affiliates, and their respective ratepayers, as is reasonable under the circumstances.  (c) An electric utility company may recover, through an automatic rate adjustment clause, the electric utility company's revenue requirement resulting from the distribution, apportionment, or allocation of the costs and expenses of the renewable portfolios of the electric utility company and its electric utility affiliates.  (d) To provide for timely recovery of the revenue requirement under subsection (c), the commission may establish a separate automatic rate adjustment clause, or approve the use of a previously approved automatic rate adjustment clause, without a rate case filing. The use of the automatic rate adjustment clause to recover the revenue requirement shall be allowed to continue until the revenue requirement is incorporated in rates in the respective electric utility company's rate case. [L 2001, c 272, §4; am L 2011, c 69, §4]
HI Rev Stat § 269-94 (2021)
2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes|Title 15. Transportation and Utilities|269. Public Utilities Commission|269-94 Waivers, extensions, and incentives.

  §269-94 Waivers, extensions, and incentives. Any electric utility company not meeting the renewable portfolio standard shall report to the public utilities commission within ninety days following the goal dates established in section [269-92], and provide an explanation for not meeting the renewable portfolio standard. The public utilities commission shall have the option to either grant a waiver from the renewable portfolio standard or an extension for meeting the prescribed standard.  The public utilities commission may provide incentives to encourage electric utility companies to exceed their renewable portfolio standards or to meet their renewable portfolio standards ahead of time, or both. [L 2001, c 272, §5]