Legislature(2017 - 2018)BARNES 124
03/31/2018 01:00 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB262 | |
| HB374 | |
| HB384 | |
| HB401 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 262 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 374 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 384 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 401 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 374-ON-BILL FINANCING OF ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS
1:21:50 PM
CHAIR KITO announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 374, "An Act relating to on-bill financing by an
electric or gas distribution utility for certain energy
efficiency and conservation improvements."
1:22:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL moved to adopt the CS for HB 374 as the
working document.
CHAIR KITO objected for discussion.
1:22:41 PM
CAITLYN ELLIS, Staff, Representative Sam Kito, Alaska State
Legislature, presented the changes in the CS. She paraphrased
the explanation of changes [included in committee packet], which
reads as follows [original punctuation provided]:
MOVED meter conservation charge language from section
42.05.750 to the meter conservation charge section
(Page 2, lines 10-17) and DELETED meter conservation
charge language unnecessarily repeated in the
definition of meter conservation charge (Page 5, lines
6-7). Change requested by bill drafter- cosmetic
change only.
Page 2, line 27 DELETED "AS 42.05.261," (mistaken
cross reference)
Page 3, lines 25-28 DELETED most of Sect. 42.05.754
Rental Property.
With deletion, only landlords that are responsible for
the entire utility bill can enter into an on-bill
financing agreement for rental property; and tenants
cannot enter into on-bill financing agreements at all.
This led to the following conforming DELETIONS:
• "a customer or landlord of' on Page 1, line 8;
• "or landlord" Page 2, line 19;
• "a tenant or subsequent tenant of the residence
or building under AS 42.05.754." Page 2, line 21;
• "a purchaser's obligation to notify a tenant
under AS 42.05.754 if the purchase leases the
property." Page 3, line 16; and
• "or landlord of a utility customer" Page 4, line
27.
Page 2, lines 8-9 INSERTED language making it
explicitly clear that the utility can choose what type
of improvements the utility will finance under an on-
bill program. This was the bill's intent all along.
DELETED "an electric or gas distribution" before
"utility" nine places in the bill (including the
title). The change would allow a district heating
utility to utilize on-bill financing.
Page 4, line 31 REWORDED definition of "energy
conservation system".
Version N: the new fuel switched to must be more
efficient and not increase direct
greenhouse gas emissions.
Version E: the new fuel still must not increase
greenhouse gas emissions, and must
either be more efficient OR cheaper.
1:25:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked about weatherization
considerations in the CS.
MS. ELLIS answered that weatherization considerations were not
included in the CS. She deferred to Mr. Earl.
1:26:10 PM
ROB EARL, Staff, Representative Adam Wool, Alaska State
Legislature, presented HB 374 on behalf of Representative Wool,
prime sponsor. He answered that he agreed that weatherization
is not included.
CHAIR KITO added that one change to the bill is to make sure the
utility provider can approve the measures that can be financed.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL said that the original intent was to
facilitate the conversion to more efficient fuel sources.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON asked about the concerns expressed by
Alaska Electric Light and Power (AELP).
MS. ELLIS said the new definition mostly resolves those
concerns. She added AELP had been involved in the change.
1:29:02 PM
CHAIR KITO removed his objection to adopting the CS to HB 374.
1:29:24 PM
CHAIR KITO announced that public testimony on HB 374 was still
open from the previous hearing.
1:29:37 PM
DUFF MITCHELL, Manager Director, Juneau Hydro Power; Chairman,
Juneau Commission on Sustainability, testified in support of HB
374. He described some of the innovative heating systems in the
state. He stated he supports Version E of the proposed bill.
He said the new language is "utility agnostic". He said he
believes the bill supports the state's energy policies.
1:33:38 PM
CHAIR KITO closed public testimony.
1:33:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL moved to report CS for HB 374 out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, it was so ordered.