§269-6  General powers and duties.  (a) The public utilities commission shall have the general supervision hereinafterset forth over all public utilities, and shall perform the duties and exercisethe powers imposed or conferred upon it by this chapter.  Included among thegeneral powers of the commission is the authority to adopt rules pursuant tochapter 91 necessary for the purposes of this chapter.

(b)  The public utilities commission mayconsider the need for increased renewable energy use in exercising itsauthority and duties under this chapter.

(c)  The chairperson of the commission mayappoint a hearings officer, who shall not be subject to chapter 76, to hear andrecommend decisions in any proceeding before it other than a proceedinginvolving the rates or any other matters covered in the tariffs filed by thepublic utilities.  The hearings officer shall have the power to take testimony,make findings of fact and conclusions of law, and recommend a decision;provided that the findings of fact, the conclusions of law, and the recommendeddecision shall be reviewed and may be approved by the commission after noticeto the parties and an opportunity to be heard.  The hearings officer shall haveall of the above powers conferred upon the public utilities commission undersection 269-10. [L 1913, c 89, §4; RL 1925, §2192; RL 1935, §7944; RL 1945,§4705; am L 1949, c 253, §1; RL 1955, §104-5; HRS §269-6; am L 1976, c 165, §5;am L 1983, c 219, §3; gen ch 1993; am L 2000, c 253, §150; am L 2007, c 177, §2]

 

Revision Note

 

  Subsection (b), enacted as a new section, is codified to thissection pursuant to §23G-15.

  Subsection designations added by revisor pursuant to §23G-15.

 

Attorney General Opinions

 

  PUC has authority to approve automatic fuel adjustmentclauses.  Att. Gen. Op. 76-1.

 

Case Notes

 

  Constitutional.  33 H. 390, aff'd 96 F.2d 412, aff'd 305 U.S. 306.

  The public utilities commission has the authority to regulatethe height of utility poles.  72 H. 285, 814 P.2d 398.

  Cited:  24 H. 136, 139; 32 H. 127, 129.