Gov. David Ige’s nominee to the panel that regulates Hawaii’s utilities was unanimously recommended by a Senate committee.
The Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health Committee voted 7-0 Tuesday to recommend the confirmation of James “Jay” Griffin to serve as the third regulator of the state Public Utilities Commission for a term set to expire June 30, 2022. The confirmation is now up to the full Senate.
“I’m going to be pleased to recommend to my colleagues that we advise and consent,” said committee Chairwoman Rosalyn Baker (D, West Maui- South Maui). “I feel confident that you will be that independent and collaborative voice at the PUC.”
The three members of the PUC panel and its staff regulate the state’s major utilities from the energy sector, such as Hawaiian Electric Co. and Hawaii Gas, to water carriers such as Young Brothers. The agency is in charge of ruling on rates, guidelines concerning the general management of the different utilities, as well as mergers and acquisitions of the regulated companies. The PUC’s decision is required for Ohio-based Cincinnati Bell Inc.’s $650 million purchase of Honolulu-based Hawaiian Telcom to close.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime for someone with my background,” Griffin said when testifying at the hearing. “When I sign my name onto those decisions, I take a responsibility for those decisions very seriously. … I realize they have profound impact on people throughout the state, the cost of living here and the quality of life.”
Griffin has been acting as an interim member of the state PUC panel, serving alongside Chairman Randy Iwase and Lorraine Akiba since May. Griffin joined after the Senate rejected Ige’s original nominee, Tom Gorak, in April. Gorak’s appointment stirred controversy and a lawsuit from former PUC Chairwoman Mina Morita, as it came days before the PUC’s ruling to deny Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc.’s
$4.3 billion bid to buy Hawaiian Electric Industries.
Griffin worked as a researcher and faculty member at the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He previously served as chief of policy and research at the PUC under Morita, overseeing staff and consultants in analyzing state energy policy decisions, such as the state’s long-term power supply plan.
Dozens of members of Hawaii’s energy community testified in support of Griffin’s appointment at the Tuesday hearing, including Iwase, Hawaii Solar Energy Association representative Will Giese, current Consumer Advocate Dean Nishina and former Consumer Advocate Jeff Ono. Marti Townsend, director of the Sierra Club of Hawaii, and Earthjustice attorney Isaac Moriwake also testified in support of Griffin.
