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Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
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Current officeholders
The current commissioners are John Cole (appointed 2006), Hermina Morita (chair) (appointed 2011) and Michael Champley (appointed 2011).
Authority
The public utilities commission is established by state statute.[1]
Hawaii Revised Statutes, 269-2
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(a) There shall be a public utilities commission of three members, to be called commissioners, and who shall be appointed in the manner prescribed in section 26-34 |
Qualifications
State law instructs the governor to appoint commissioners "who have had experience in accounting, business, engineering, government, finance, law, or other similar field." In addition, no commissioner may own any stock or bond of a public utility.[1]
Hawaii Revised Statutes, 269-2
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In appointing commissioners, the governor shall select persons who have had experience in accounting, business, engineering, government, finance, law, or other similar fields. The commissioners shall devote full time to their duties as members of the commission and no commissioner shall hold any other public office or other employment during the commissioner's term of office. No person owning any stock or bonds of any public utility corporation, or having any interest in, or deriving any remuneration from, any public utility shall be appointed a commissioner. |
Appointments
All members of the Board of Natural Resources, including the chairperson, are appointed by the governor with the consent of the state Senate. Of the board's seven members, four represent one of each of Hawaii's land districts, and three serve at large. Board members serve four year terms.
Term limits
No board member may be appointed to more than two consecutive terms.
Vacancies
Section 26-34 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes provides that vacancies in the board be filled according to Article V, Section 6 of the Hawaii Constitution. If a vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a replacement with the consent of the state Senate. If the Senate is out of session when the vacancy occurs, the governor may appoint a temporary replacement to exercise the powers of attorney general until the legislature reconvenes.
Duties
Commissioners are responsible for regulating the rates and business practices of public utilities, i.e. electricity, gas, telecommunications, private water and sewage and water/land transport companies.
Compensation
In 2010, commissioners received a salary of $90,060.
Contact info
Address:
465 South King Street, #103
Honolulu, HI 96813
See also
External links
References
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