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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> DATE: August 1, 2017 Re: Comm. No. 364/Res. No. 241-17 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 9:46 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 241-17, reports as follows: <br /> Resolution No. 241-17, transmitted by Council Chair Valerie T. Poindexter, via Communication No. 364 <br /> dated July 14, 2017, authorizes the Office of the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Arizona State <br /> University. <br /> The agreement would assist the County with its intervention of Public Utility Commission(PUC) dockets <br /> pertaining to Hawaiian Electric Company's Power Supply Improvement Plans and Grid Modernization <br /> Strategy. <br /> Research and Development Director Diane Ley stated that HRS, Section 46-7, requires that the County <br /> obtain the consent of the council to authorize approval of the administration to enter into a contract with <br /> the University of Arizona, to support the review of several fairly complex PUC dockets. The purpose of <br /> the contract is to allow Arizona State University to intervene in several PUC dockets pertaining to power <br /> supply, generation, and transmission as well as integration of those dockets into additional dockets. <br /> University of Arizona has a history of being able to address the number of utility related planning <br /> strategies and assessments. Arizona State University would also assist the department with formulation <br /> and identification of opportunities relating to these dockets as well as policies, recommendations, and any <br /> additions or timelines. The focus would be on balancing of equitable rates as well as the economic <br /> viability of the utility. <br /> Council Member Sue Lee Loy inquired how evaluation from the university would tie into the comment <br /> period at the PUC level as it moves through that analysis process. Ms. Ley stated that the County has <br /> been a participant in that docket and is working through the process. <br /> Council Member Dru Kanuha confirmed that the Mayor is authorized to execute the agreement and any <br /> related documents on behalf of the County. Ms. Ley stated they are focused on the power supply <br /> improvement plans and modernization strategy docket. The challenge has been moving forward with <br /> planning, which goes before the PUC, with the authority to split off into separate dockets, and therefore <br /> needs some flexibility. She stated public dollars are involved, and they want to be conservative while <br /> fulfilling the intent of assisting the County in asking the right questions and suggesting appropriate <br /> policies. <br /> FC Report No. 26 <br />