Smart Renewable Energy Tariffs

Summary

Note: The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued a decision and order in December 2023 adopting  two new permanent Smart DER tariff options (Smart Renewable Energy Export and Smart Renewable Energy Non-Export), which took effect on April 1, 2024. Customers taking service under one of the previous tariffs will be transitioned to the Smart Renewable Energy Export program after seven years in their current program. The earliest transitions will begin on October 1, 2024. The summary below describes the new Smart DER tariffs, followed by the previous interim tariff options.  

Smart DER Tariff Options (for systems installed on or after April 1, 2024)

Smart Renewable Energy Export

The Smart Renewable Energy Export tariff is available to all renewable energy technologies and there is no size limit. Participants must take service under a time-of-use rate, and will receive credits for energy they export to the grid at a time-varying rate that coincides with the time periods of the time-of-use rates. The export rates are island-specific and are determined by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission every three years. Participating customers will have their export rates "locked in" for the first seven years of any new interconnection. 

Smart Renewable Energy Non-Export

The Smart Renewable Energy Non-Export tariff is also available to all renewable energy technologies and there is no size limit. However, energy exports are not allowed under the tariff. All power produced by the customer either has to be used as it is produced or stored for later use.

Previous Interim Tariff Options

Customer Grid Supply Plus

The CGS Plus Tariff is available on a first-come, first-served basis to residential and "small commercial" customers (including government entities) that generate electricity using solar, wind, biomass or hydro-electric systems until the aggregate capacity limit for the specific region/utility has been met. Third-party owned and operated systems are eligible to participate in the tariff.

Customers will receive a monthly bill credit for energy delivered to the grid based on a credit rate that varies by island. Additionally, participating systems must include equipment that allows the utility to remotely control the output of the system, and curtail it as needed to ensure grid stability. 

Smart Export

The Smart Export tariff is for renewable energy systems that are coupled with energy storage. Customers are expected to use excess generation to charge the battery system during daylight hours and to discharge the stored electricity in the evening. Electricity exported to the grid in the evening, overnight, and early morning hours will receive a bill credit based on an island-specific rate.