2 new HECO solar programs approved

Hawaiian Electric Co. customers have two new ways to add photovoltaic systems to their homes after a decision Friday by the state Public Utilities Commission.

The PUC approved two programs that will allow HECO customers a limited ability to send some electricity generated by new rooftop solar systems back to the utility and get paid for it.

The regulatory agency also said HECO customers who already have solar systems under a program called customer grid supply will continue to receive for five years the same credit rate they get now for electricity they send to the utility.

Under one of the new programs, customers can install solar systems that aren’t connected to storage batteries, and receive electricity bill credits for power exported to the utility during the day. However, these customers will have to have advanced equipment that allows HECO to reduce what is sent to the utility through its grid to prevent any problems with too much energy flowing through the grid.

The PUC said this new program — called “controllable CGS” or “CGS+” — may be available to about 5,000 to 6,000 customers on Oahu, Hawaii island, Maui, Molokai and Lanai. CGS stands for customer grid supply, which is the name of an older program that has little room for new customers and credits Oahu participants 15 cents for any excess energy they send to the utility. An earlier and now closed program where customers are paid the full retail rate, or around 25 cents a kilowatt-hour on Oahu, was called net energy metering.

The rate paid to CGS+ customers will be 10.1 cents on Oahu, 10.6 cents on Hawaii island, 12.2 cents on Maui, 16.8 cents on Molokai and 20.8 cents on Lanai.

“Smart Export” is the name of the second new program, under which customers who install solar systems with batteries have an option to export power during nondaylight hours. Typically, such systems generate power during the day, and this power is largely stored for customer use. This export credit is 15 cents on Oahu, 11 cents on Hawaii island, 14.4 cents on Maui, 16.6 cents on Molokai and 20.8 cents on Lanai.

This program may be available to roughly 3,500 to 4,500 customers, the PUC said.

The PUC’s decision followed input from stakeholders over the last nine months.