HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PCPWMT 001 2025-01-21 2024-2026REPORT OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE
ON PUBLIC WORKS AND MASS TRANSIT
DATE: January 21, 2025
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 11:15 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Comm. No. 62/Bill No. 12
Your Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit, to which was referred Bill No. 12,
reports as follows:
Bill No. 12, introduced by Council Members Heather Kimball and Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder,
via Communication No. 62, dated December 17, 2024, amends Chapter 5D, Article 1,
Sections 5D-1-3 and 5D-1-6, of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended),
relating to the Electrical Code.
Bill No. 12 proposes to add electrical work performed by an electrical utility on any generating
plant, receiving station, switching station, distributing station, supply lines or mains, overhead
service drop, and underground or station service supply conductor as exempted from the
provisions of the County Electrical. Code.
Committee Member Heather Kimball began discussion by articulating these three purposes for
the exemption set forth in Bill No. 12:
1) All three of the other counties currently have this in place for electrical work by an
electrical utility;
2) It applies to the permitting and inspections of electrical equipment used to produce or
transmit power, which are work plans the County does not currently have the internal
capacity to evaluate; and
3) This action will help avoid delays, which supports progress on renewable energy goals.
Ms. Kimball explained that the exemption does not apply to electrical work within any support
buildings related to energy production nor to facilities that have outstanding permits related to
these support structures.
Committee Member Jenn Kagiwada invited representatives from the Department of Public
Works to offer comments. Julann Sonomura, Building Division Chief, expressed that the
Department supports this legislation and reiterated its purpose of exempting large utility grade
equipment.
Responding to an inquiry from Committee Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Ms. Sonomura
affirmed that the Public Utilities Commission currently exempts this type of electrical work by
utility companies.
PCPWMT Report No. 1
PCPWMT-1 Page 2 January 21, 2025
Your Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit is in accord with the purpose and
intent of Bill No. 12, and recommends its passage on first reading.
dkir
AYES
NOES
ABS
EX
GALIMBA
x
HUSTACE
x
INABA
x
KAGMADA
x
K,kNEALI'l-KLEINFELDER
x
KIERKIEWICZ
x
KIMBALL
x
ONISHI
x
VILLEGAS
x
Respectfully submitted,
POLICY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC
WORKS AND MASS TRANSIT
"M-E HUSTACE, CHAIR
PCPWMT REPORT NO.:
ADOPTED: FEB 0 5-2T5