Electronic copies of documents
HRS §269-6.5
in effect269-6.5. Electronic copies of documents
(a) No later than July 1, 2011, the public utilities commission shall accept from any person who submits a document to the commission the original or one electronic copy of each application, complaint, pleading, brief, or other document required to be filed with the commission pursuant to this chapter, and the consumer advocate shall accept service of one paper or electronic copy of each application, complaint, pleading, brief, or other document filed with the commission.
(b) The commission shall adopt rules pursuant
to chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this section. Until the final
adoption by the commission of rules governing the electronic filing of
documents with the commission, the following requirements shall apply to all
documents submitted to the commission pursuant to this section; provided that
additional requirements with regard to document format may be established by
the commission through written guidelines:
(1) Unless otherwise required by this chapter or the
guidelines of the commission, each person who submits or files an application,
complaint, pleading, brief, or other document shall submit to or file with the
commission an original or one electronic copy of each document and shall serve
one paper or electronic copy of each document on the consumer advocate;
(2) All paper documents submitted to or filed with
the commission shall be printed on one side of the page only and, if
practicable, in portrait orientation;
(3) Original paper documents submitted to or filed
with the commission shall not be stapled but shall be clipped together or
placed in a clearly marked three-ring binder, as appropriate;
(4) All paper documents filed or submitted to the
commission shall include appropriately labeled separator pages in addition to
tabbed dividers, as applicable;
(5) All confidential documents filed under
confidential seal shall be clearly designated in accordance with the
requirements of any applicable protective order, and the sealed envelope in
which the confidential documents are enclosed shall clearly indicate the
appropriate docket number and subject; and
(6) Electronic documents shall be named using the
filing party's name, docket number, date of filing, and name of document as
part of the document title.
Upon final adoption of rules pursuant to
chapter 91, the rules of the commission governing submission or filing of
electronic documents shall supersede the provisions of this subsection.
(c) No later than July 1, 2013, the public
utilities commission shall accept any application, complaint, pleading, brief,
or other document required to be filed with the commission pursuant to this
chapter as either a paper document or an electronic document.
(d) If a signature is required on any document
submitted electronically pursuant to this section, that requirement shall be
satisfied by the inclusion of an electronic signature. Chapter 489E shall
apply to all electronic documents submitted pursuant to this section.
(e) Communications, correspondence, and
service of orders and other official documents shall be made upon the public
utility, complainant, and any other party at the last recorded mailing or
electronic mail address on file with the commission. Proof of service by
certified or registered mail or by electronic transmission to the last known
mailing or electronic mail address shall constitute a valid service of any
communication, correspondence, order, or other official document.
(f) A document filed by electronic means shall
be equivalent to an original document for the purposes of this chapter.
[L 2011,
c 69, §1; am L 2021, c 72, §2; am L 2023, c 205, §3]
Source: Hawaii State Legislature (capitol.hawaii.gov), via Internet Archive capturesURL: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol05_Ch0261-0319/HRS0269/HRS_0269-0006_0005.htmFetched: 11/10/2026