HI SR207

Request that the Public Utilities Commission develop and adopt reliability standards and interconnection requirements under Hawaii Revised Statutes section 269-142 to expedite utility-scale renewable energy project interconnections.

Require electric utilities to complete interconnection design, reach agreement with project developers, and file for interconnection approval within 270 days of power purchase agreement filing, with interim status reports due at 90 and 180 days.

Authorize the Public Utilities Commission to require utilities to forfeit performance incentive mechanism funds if they fail to meet the 270-day timeline, and require the Commission to approve or disapprove interconnection requests within 120 days of filing.

Require the Public Utilities Commission to contract with a Hawaii Electricity Reliability Administrator (non-utility entity) and submit reports to the Legislature on the Administrator's progress within 30 days of receiving their reports.

Direct the Public Utilities Commission to submit a comprehensive report to the Legislature by 30 days prior to the 2022 Regular Session addressing Maui-specific circumstances, Hawaii electricity reliability surcharge assessment discretion, AES Coal Plant retirement, and related legislative recommendations.