HB 339: RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Part I: Requires the Public Utilities Commission to impose certain conditions of approval on any order approving, in whole or in part, an application for the proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation of an electric utility company by an acquiring entity. Establishes a process to ensure that when an electric utility is subject to an application for a proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility and seeks approval of the application from the Public Utilities Commission, it must demonstrate that it solicited bids from potential acquiring entities that operate under a non-investor-owned utility ownership model. Requires the electric utility to submit those acceptable bids concurrently with an application by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility. Part II: Authorizes the issuance of reimbursable GO bonds for acquiring Hawaiian Electric Industries and converting it to a publicly owned utility. Authorizes the establishment of a non-bypassable electric utility conversion charge, to be deposited into the new Electric Utility Conversion Special Fund. Appropriates Funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. December 8, 2025Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2. February 14, 2025Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 780) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
3. February 14, 2025Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Amato, Pierick voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
4. February 13, 2025The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.
5. February 11, 2025Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Thursday, 02-13-25 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
6. February 4, 2025Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 90) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
7. February 4, 2025Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3).
8. January 28, 2025The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ward.
9. January 24, 2025Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Tuesday, 01-28-25 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
10. January 21, 2025Referred to EEP, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 1
11. January 17, 2025Introduced and Pass First Reading.
12. January 16, 2025Pending introduction.