Energy Equity and Justice (Docket No. 2022-0250)
Background|Announcements|Upcoming Events|Past Events|Participation|Key Issues|Working Groups|Key Orders|More Information
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Background
Energy equity refers to the goal of achieving equity in both the social and economic participation in the energy system, while also remediating social, economic, and health burdens on those historically harmed by the energy system. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission strives not only to address energy equity generally, but to ensure that existing energy inequity is not exacerbated or overlooked during the renewable energy transition.
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission opened Docket No. 2022-0250 to investigate how to better integrate equity and justice considerations across Commission proceedings and the Commission’s work more broadly, including in its role overseeing and regulating the functions of public utilities. The Commission also notes that regulatory processes can be challenging to access and will use this webpage to provide regular updates on its progress in Docket No. 2022-0250.
Announcements
- 6/23/2023 – PUC issues Decision and Order No. 40032, “Inviting Stakeholder Input on the Draft Workplan for this Docket” which includes a request and instructions for feedback on the Commission’s Proposed Equity Proceeding Workplan and Stakeholder Engagement Approach.
- 5/31/2023 – Energy Assistance Program application period open June 1-30, 2023.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides qualifying low-income households with a one-time allocation that is applied as credit towards their electric bills to help pay for energy costs. - 2/15/2023 – PUC schedules Opening Meetings March 1 and March 8 (See notice and agenda and flyer)
- 12/22/2022 – PUC issues Decision and Order No. 38788, Indefinitely extending the deadline to file a motion to participate or intervene
Upcoming Events
| Date (and stream info if available) | Topic Track | Description | Notice, Agenda, Materials |
|---|
Past Events
| Date | Topic | Description | Notice, Agenda, Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 20, 2023 | Docket Workplan | Feedback on proposed workplan | Order and Workplan |
| July 6, 2023 | Docket Workplan | Feedback on proposed workplan | Order and Workplan |
| June 22, 2023 | Energy Equity and Justice Docket Presentation | Presentation to Maui County Council Efficiency Solutions and Circular Systems Committee | Slides |
| March 8, 2023 | Equity Docket (2022-0250) | Opening Conference Meeting 2 | Notice and Agenda |
| March 1, 2023 | Equity Docket (2022-0250) | Opening Conference Meeting 1 | Notice and Agenda |
| December 6, 2022 | LIHEAP | LIHEAP Working Group Meeting #4 | Agenda Slides |
| November 15, 2022 | LIHEAP | LIHEAP Working Group Meeting #3 | Agenda Slides |
| October 18, 2022 | LIHEAP | LIHEAP Working Group Meeting #2 | Agenda Slides |
| September 27, 2022 | LIHEAP | LIHEAP Working Group Meeting #1 | Agenda Slides |
PARTICIPATION
Docket No. 2022-0250 is unique in its call for public input and will test new methods of public participation. The PUC encourages anyone interested in providing input to participate.
The PUC is particularly interested in hearing from communities that host energy facilities, people with a high energy burden, and people that do not typically participate in Commission dockets.
You may participate a number of ways including:
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- Submit a Public Comment: Send your input for the Commission’s consideration in a public comment. Your comment will be posted to the official record for Docket No. 2022-0250 for everyone to view. Because the Commission’s goal is to promote broad participation in Docket No. 2022-0250, public comments in this docket will be given the same attention and consideration as formal motions filed by parties, participants, and intervenors.
- Formal Participation or Intervention: A participant or intervenor is an official party to the docket and as such, you may be required to answer formal questions from other parties. You will also be consulted for input on issues. For more details on intervention and formal participation without intervention, see HAR § 16-601-55 and 56.
Although formal participation or intervention is not required to have your voice heard, for those wishing to be an official party in this docket, the Commission has indefinitely extended the deadline to file a motion to participate or intervene and has waived the $15 filing fee to remove barriers to participation. To take advantage of this waiver, select “Other Motions” option from the “Document Type” drop-down menu when e-filing the motion to intervene or participate.
Key Issues
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“Commission” or “PUC”) observes that among other challenges, Hawaii’s electricity rates are the highest in the country, many low- and moderate-income residents struggle to pay their energy bills, certain communities have historically shouldered the impacts of hosting energy infrastructure, and that distributed renewable energy is not accessible to all residents. These considerations should be given extra attention now during the State’s accelerating transition to 100% renewable energy.
Following feedback from the opening conferences, the Commission will use this proceeding to consider a suite of actions under five tracks:
- Procedural Equity (e.g., developing a PUC equity and justice action plan, improving accessibility of PUC proceedings, improved community engagement and customer education, etc.);
- Energy Affordability and Direct Payment Assistance (e.g., rate discounts, subsidies, bill credits, etc.);
- Equitable Siting and Hosting of Energy Infrastructure (e.g., siting processes and impact on communities, hosting of current energy infrastructure, community benefit packages, etc.);
- Equitable Access to Clean Energy (e.g., expanding participation in customer programs, expanded and enhanced clean energy financing programs, etc.); and
- Utility Performance and Tracking (e.g., increased reporting and transparency, disconnection moratoriums, modified accounting practices for non-payment, etc.).
Working Groups
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
In response to 2022 Legislative resolutions (SCR 242, SR 133, HR 43) the PUC convened a working group in September 2022, in collaboration with the Consumer Advocate to “create a Hawaii Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to assist low-income households with paying for their home energy.” The Working Group met monthly through December 2022, resulting in a report to the Hawaii State Legislature with findings and recommendations for the creation of a LIHEAP in Hawaii. The Working Group plans to continue to meet through 2023. with findings and recommendations for the creation of a LIHEAP in Hawaii. The Working Group plans to continue to meet through 2023.
Energy Equity Hui
Commission staff members participate in the Energy Equity Hui, a statewide government-nongovernment collaborative working to ensure equitable transformation in our quest to meet our 2045 clean energy goals.
Key Orders
- 12/22/2022 Decision and Order No. 38788, Indefinitely extending the deadline to file a motion to participate or intervene
- 12/13/2022 Decision and Order No. 38759, Opening the Docket
MORE INFORMATION
To see more and view all filed documents in the docket, see Docket No. 2022-0250.
For more information about this docket, interested parties may also reach out to Mike Wallerstein at [email protected].
Updated 8/2023