Public Utilities Commission

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”) has opened a proceeding to investigate performance-based regulation for the Hawaiian Electric Companies. Performance-based regulation (“PBR”) includes a set of alternative regulatory mechanisms intended to focus utilities on performance and desired outcomes, such as increased renewable energy, lower cost, and improved customer service.

Phase 1 Decision and Order

On May 23, 2019, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued a decision and order to prioritize new regulations designed to lower electricity costs, improve customer service, expand customer choices, and cost-effectively meet the state’s clean energy goals. This decision and order concludes Phase 1 of the PUC’s Performance-Based Regulation (PBR) proceeding and establishes the specific PBR mechanisms that will be developed in Phase 2 of the proceeding.

• Press Release
• PBR Phase 1 D&O 3 Page Summary
• Decision & Order No. 36326 (Docket No. 2018-0088)

Staff Proposal

Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) staff issued a proposal to adopt updated performance-based utility regulations to encourage the Hawaiian Electric Companies to cost-effectively achieve Hawaii’s energy goals and deliver savings to customers.

Docket parties may file Statements of Position commenting on the Staff Proposal by March 8, 2019.

• 1 Page Summary
• 3 Page Summary
• Staff Proposal

Related Information

• Order No. 35411
• Docket 2018-0088
• Press Release – April 18, 2018
• Web Post – April 18, 2018

Workshops

Phase 1 Workshop #1 – July 23 & July 24, 2018

• Video Workshop #1 Day 1 – 4hr 30min
  ‘Ōlelo Community Media. “Public Utilities Commission Performance Based Regulation Opening Workshop Part 1.” YouTube, Aug 16, 2018, https://youtu.be/y3LnoU961zY
• Video Workshop #1 Day 2 – 2hr 47min
  ‘Ōlelo Community Media. “Public Utilities Commission Performance Based Regulation Opening Workshop Part 2.” YouTube, Aug 16, 2018, https://youtu.be/NsYMjV7DuJs

Phase 1 Workshop #2 – September 27, 2018

• Video Workshop #2 Part 1 – 1hr 33min
  (‘Ōlelo Community Media. “PUC Workshop 2 Part 1 (9/27/18).” YouTube, Nov 15, 2018, https://youtu.be/XLpeZ4ohaIo)
• Video Workshop #2 Part 2 – 1hr 34min
  (‘Ōlelo Community Media. “PUC Workshop 2 Part 2 (9/27/18).” YouTube, Nov 15, 2018, https://youtu.be/5R7kWct361Q)
• Video Workshop #2 Part 3 – 1hr 34min
  (‘Ōlelo Community Media. “PUC Workshop 2 Part 3 (9/27/18).” YouTube, Nov 15, 2018, https://youtu.be/aPL4z9Vbz6w)

Phase 1 Workshop #3 – November 28, 2018

• Video Workshop #3 Part 1 – 1hr 27min
  (‘Ōlelo Community Media. “PUC Performance-Based Regulation Opening Workshop #3 (Part 1)”Olelo, Nov 28, 2018, http://olelo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=78&clip_id=69365)
• Video Workshop #3 Part 2 – 2hr 23min
  (‘Ōlelo Community Media. “PUC Performance-Based Regulation Opening Workshop #3 (Part 2)”Olelo, Nov 28, 2018, http://olelo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=78&clip_id=69379)

Phase 2 Workshop A – August 7, 2019

10:00 AM at Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Hearing Room

Watch Live

• Live TV on  ‘Ōlelo Community Media Channel 49
• Live Stream online on https://olelo.org/tune-in.  [Click “WATCH NOW!” button under Channel 49]

Presentation Slides

• Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
• Hawaiian Electric Companies
• Consumer Advocate
• Ulupono Initiative
• Blue Planet Foundation
• County of Hawaii
• City & County of Honolulu – Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency
• Hawaii PV Coalition

Hearing

Hearing on the PUC’s investigation into Performance-Based Regulation, Docket No. 2018-0088

The Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) has scheduled a virtual hearing to present questions to the Parties in the Commission’s investigation into Performance-Based Regulation (“PBR”). This hearing represents the culmination of over two years of collaborative working group meetings, workshops, briefing, and discovery, during which the Parties have developed and refined a suite of proposed regulatory mechanisms to implement the transition away from cost of service regulation towards PBR for the Commission’s review and consideration. The hearing will take place from Monday, September 21, 2020, through Wednesday, September 23, 2020, with each hearing day beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at approximately 5:00 p.m. The Commission will host the hearing through Webex for the parties, but will live-stream the hearing to the public through a separate YouTube channel. Links to the PBR docket record and the YouTube link to view the hearing are provided below.

Hearing Live-Stream on YouTube:

• 9/21/2020, 9:00 AM HST – Day 1: https://Youtu.be/Vo_2xcIOda4
• 9/22/2020, 9:00 AM HST – Day 2: https://youtu.be/invGT8p6b2Y
• 9/23/2020, 9:00 AM HST – Day 3: https://youtu.be/gySSxBeE4Zo