Hawaii Energy, a ratepayer-funded energy conservation and efficiency program, will relaunch a $150 rebate for homeowners to help offset the cost of solar water heater maintenance.

The Solar Water Heating Tune-Up rebate provides residents with $150 to hire a Hawaii Energy-participating contractor to inspect their systems for wear and tear, which may include leaks, corrosion or pump failure.

The rebate is valid from Jan. 5 through May 31, 2015, or until the funding runs out.

To qualify for the rebate, systems must be at least 3 years old. Residential electric ratepayers on Hawaii island, Lanai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu who did not receive a Tune-Up rebate last year are able to participate.

Hawaii Energy relaunched the program due to high demand, said Caroline Carl, Hawaii Energy’s residential and transformational program director.

"We received numerous requests for Hawaii Energy to bring this rebate back since it really helps offset the cost of maintenance," Carl said. "A solar water heater is a major energy-saving investment that should be maintained to ensure it’ll last for years to come."

A solar water heater can last 15 years or more but requires maintenance every three to five years.

There were about 80,000 solar water heater systems on Oahu at the end of 2013, reported Blue Planet Foundation in its State of Hawaii 2014 Energy Report Card.

The maintenance is a cost-effective and simple thing to do, said Richard Wallsgrove, program director at Blue Planet Foundation.

"The thing about a solar water heater is you want to make sure it is actually using the sun to heat the water: If people let the timer get set off it can stop working," Wallsgrove said. "The timer is run by electricity; if the power goes out or something you might find out that it thinks it’s 6 p.m. when it is 6 a.m."

Without regular maintenance, the savings provided by a solar water heater can gradually diminish, Hawaii Energy said in a news release.

Households that replace their traditional electric water heaters with solar water heaters typically save between 25 percent and 40 percent on their electric bills.

Not including the rebate, the cost of a tune-up ranges between $300 and $500.

Last year, Hawaii Energy provided 826 Tune-Up rebates totaling $123,900.

A $1,000 instant rebate is available through Hawaii Energy for residents who purchase a solar water heating system.

Visit www.hawaiienergy.com or call 537-5577 or toll-free 877-231-8222.