Incentive programs target HECO customers

Hawaiian Electric Co. said Tuesday it plans to provide customers with a variety of incentives to encourage them to use more electricity at times when renewable-energy sources are plentiful and use less electricity when the power is coming from fossil fuels.

Hawaiian Electric said it filed its "Integrated Demand Response Portfolio Plan" with the Public Utilities Commission on Monday.

The programs are all voluntary. Customers would participate only if the plan benefits them, said Hawaiian Electric spokes­man Peter Rosegg.

"Under the programs, customers receive financial incentives for shifting energy use to certain times of the day or voluntarily allowing the output of certain appliances or equipment to be adjusted," the company said in a news release.

The "demand response" programs help the utility manage the demand for electricity to more closely match the supply of power coming from renewable-energy sources such as wind and solar.

"Some demand response programs encourage customers to shift energy use to specific times, such as when solar and wind systems are producing the most power. This can maximize the use of wind and solar power that might otherwise be wasted," the company said.

"Demand response programs are a win-win for our customers and the environment," said Shelee Kimura, Hawaiian Electric vice president for corporate planning and business development. "With demand response, customers get financial rewards that lower their monthly bills. We reduce the use of more expensive generators to meet electricity needs. And together we can unlock the potential for more low-cost renewable energy."

Hawaiian Electric said it already offers five demand response programs on Oahu, including the "Energy Scout" program, which provides 32,000 customers a credit on their electric bills to allow the utility to turn off their hot-water heaters remotely for brief periods.