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



(b)  The public utilities commission may
consider the need for increased renewable energy use in exercising its
authority and duties under this chapter.



(c)  The chairperson of the commission may
appoint a hearings officer, who shall not be subject to chapter 76, to hear and
recommend decisions in any proceeding before it other than a proceeding
involving the rates or any other matters covered in the tariffs filed by the
public 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 recommended
decision shall be reviewed and may be approved by the commission after notice
to the parties and an opportunity to be heard.  The hearings officer shall have
all of the above powers conferred upon the public utilities commission under
section 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 this
section pursuant to §23G-15.



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



 



Attorney General Opinions



 



  PUC has authority to approve automatic fuel adjustment
clauses.  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 regulate
the height of utility poles.  72 H. 285, 814 P.2d 398.



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