HECO offers medical-needs discount

Hawaiian Electric Co. has launched a pilot program that offers a $20 discount on monthly electrical bills to 2,000 customers who are dependent on life-support equipment.

HECO said Monday that customers with special medical needs can apply for the two-year pilot program. However, any electricity that customers use above the typical 500 kilowatt-hours per month will be charged at regular residential rates.

For customers to qualify, someone in the home must be dependent on a life-support device such as aerosol tents, apnea monitors, hemodialysis machines, compressors, electric nerve stimulators, pressure pumps, electrostatic nebulizers and intermittent positive pressure breathing machines. HECO said paraplegic, hemiplegic, quadriplegic, multiple sclerosis or scleroderma patients with special heating or cooling needs also qualify for the discount.

Customers can apply for the program on HECO’s website. HECO said the applications are required to have a Hawaii-based, licensed physician’s signature, but the form will not require the customer to report a medical challenge, only equipment and heating or cooling needs.