HI SB2474

Public Utilities Commission must contract with a qualified consultant to conduct a comprehensive study on the accessibility and interconnection procedures for Hawaii's electric system, focusing on renewable energy projects greater than five megawatts and community-based renewable energy projects of any size from investor-owned utilities and utilities serving counties with populations exceeding 100,000.

Study must examine reliability standards, interconnection requirements and procedures, timeliness of the process, reasonableness of interconnection costs, project management fees, and delays in stage 1 and stage 2 renewable procurement projects over the previous seven years.

Study shall include recommendations on reliability standards, interconnection procedures, reasonable timelines, cost transparency mechanisms, performance incentives or penalties for utilities, and resolution processes for interconnection disputes.

Public Utilities Commission must submit completed study and progress report on implementing a Hawaii electric reliability administrator to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the 2023 regular session convening.

$100,000 appropriated from general revenues for fiscal year 2022-2023 to fund the consultant contract and study; Act takes effect July 1, 2022.