Bill Text: HI SB2561 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 2561 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating To Consumer Protection.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-07-08 - Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 629). [SB2561 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SB2561-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2561
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part V to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§196- Household appliances; retailers; rebates. (a) All retailers of certain household appliances doing business in the State shall conspicuously display signage or text that informs consumers of the following:

(1) Available energy efficiency rebates funded by the public benefits fee; and

(2) Hawaii-specific energy costs for operation based on a statewide average residential electricity cost for the prior calendar year.

(b) The Hawaii state energy office, in collaboration with the public benefits fee administrator, shall notify all retailers subject to this section of the requirements of this section.

(c) The requirements in this section shall apply only to household appliances that appear on a retailer's showroom floor and that are required, as of October 1, 2020, to display the Federal Trade Commission's EnergyGuide label.

(d) Displayed signage or text as required in this section shall be updated at a minimum of once every five years. New household appliances entering the Hawaii market between update cycles shall be appropriately labeled pursuant to this section upon appearance on a retailer's showroom floor.

(e) The public benefits fee administrator shall create a template for the displayed signage or text required by this section and make the template available to retailers no later than July 1, 2021, and at a minimum of once every five years thereafter. Retailers shall display the required signage or text by January 1 of the following calendar year."

SECTION 2. Section 269-123, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) The public benefits fee administrator's duties and responsibilities shall be established by the public utilities commission by rule or order, and may include:

(1) Identifying, developing, administering, promoting, implementing, and evaluating programs, methods, and technologies that support energy-efficiency and demand-side management programs;

(2) Encouraging the continuance or improvement of efficiencies made in the production, delivery, and use of energy-efficiency and demand-side management programs and services;

(3) Using the energy-efficiency expertise and capabilities that have developed or may develop in the State and consulting with state agency experts;

(4) Promoting program initiatives, incentives, and market strategies that address the needs of persons facing the most significant barriers to participation;

(5) Promoting coordinated program delivery, including coordination with electric public utilities regarding the delivery of low-income home energy assistance, other demand-side management or energy-efficiency programs, and any utility programs;

(6) Consideration of innovative approaches to delivering demand-side management and energy-efficiency services, including strategies to encourage third-party financing and customer contributions to the cost of demand-side management and energy-efficiency services;

(7) Submitting, to the public utilities commission for review and approval, a multi-year budget and planning cycle that promotes program improvement, program stability, and maturation of programs and delivery resources; and

(8) Educating and training appliance manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of appliances [~~covered~~]:

(A) Covered under part VI of chapter 196 about the appliance efficiency standards established under that part; and

(B) Covered under section 196‑ about the energy efficiency rebates funded by the public benefits fee and Hawaii-specific energy costs for operation based on a statewide average residential electricity cost for the prior calendar year that are required to be displayed under that section,

to improve compliance[.] with those laws."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on October 1, 2020.

Report Title:

Hawaii State Energy Office; Public Benefits Fee Administrator; Household Appliances

Description:

Requires retailers of household appliances to conspicuously display on certain household appliances that appear in the retailer's showroom floor available energy efficiency rebates funded by the public benefits fee and Hawaii-specific energy operation costs based on a statewide average residential electricity cost for the prior calendar year. Requires the public benefits fee administrator to provide a template for the signage or text containing the information to retailers no later than 7/1/2021 and to update the signage or text at least once every five years. Effective 10/1/2020. (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.