Hawaiian Electric offering new solar program

The Hawaiian Electric Cos. have launched a new solar program that allows net energy metering customers to add energy storage to their rooftop solar systems — as long as the new equipment doesn’t export power to the grid.

The program, NEM Plus, started this week and is available only to existing NEM customers with a signed agreement at Hawaiian Electric Co., Maui Electric Co. and Hawaii Electric Light Co. on the Big Island. There are about 71,000 NEM customers across the companies’ five-island service territory.

NEM Plus allows NEM customers to maintain their current program status if they choose to add a nonexporting renewable system with or without energy storage, or a stand-alone energy storage system.

NEM Plus could be a cost-effective option for customers who are consistently paying above the minimum bill for energy delivered to them. It also might benefit NEM customers who want to make home improvements such as adding rooms or split air conditioning, or to add an electric vehicle to their household. NEM customers who already pay only the minimum bill throughout most or all of the year would not benefit from NEM Plus.

For more information, go to hawaiianelectric.com/nemplus, mauielectric.com/nemplus or hawaiielectriclight.com/nemplus.

ON THE MOVE

‘Ekahi Health has appointed the following two individuals to its diabetes care management team:

>> Lori Morimoto is the company’s newest behavioral health specialist. Prior to joining the health center, Morimoto served as a licensed mental health therapist for The Catalyst Group. She also worked for 10 years as a behavioral health specialist within the state Department of Education.

>> Jerry Ortiz is the new medical assistant. He will assist patients and support the health professional team by helping with scheduling as well as enrollment members in education classes. Ortiz has five years of customer service experience and has several internship positions in the medical field.