HB 557 Summary

• Amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 196-6.5 to strengthen requirements for granting variances to the solar water heater mandate for new single-family dwellings.

• Requires variance applications to be signed by a licensed architect or mechanical engineer who must demonstrate that solar installation is impracticable, cost-prohibitive based on a 15-year life cycle cost-benefit analysis, or that a renewable energy technology system is substituted as the primary water heating source.

• Adds requirement that demand water heater variance applicants must demonstrate the device's life cycle cost is less than a solar water heater system based on the cost-benefit analysis.

• Extends the variance application review period from 30 to 60 working days and grants the coordinator authority to deny incomplete or insufficient applications.

• Authorizes the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to adopt rules imposing fees, fines, or penalties for false attestations on variance applications, with revenues deposited into the energy security special fund.