HI HR211

Request the Public Utilities Commission to explore retail wheeling feasibility through an investigative docket, allowing consumers to select their own energy suppliers across transmission or distribution lines.

Require the Commission to submit a report to the Legislature if fundamental pending issues must be resolved before opening a retail wheeling docket, identifying those issues, their priority, and estimated time and resources needed.

Direct the Commission to submit its report no later than twenty days before the 2011 Regular Session convenes.

Cite Hawaii's dependence on imported oil for over ninety percent of energy needs and the need to support the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative as reasons for exploring retail wheeling options.

Note that retail wheeling may require unbundling of utility tariffs for transmission, distribution, reliability, power quality, and smart grid regulation to accommodate intermittent renewable energy.