Hawaii
Incentives/Policies for Renewable Energy
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Last DSIRE Review: 04/02/2009
| Incentive Type: |
Interconnection |
| State: |
Hawaii |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Thermal Electric,
Photovoltaics,
Landfill Gas,
Wind,
Biomass,
Hydroelectric,
Geothermal Electric,
Fuel Cells,
Municipal Solid Waste,
CHP/Cogeneration,
Microturbines,
Other Distributed Generation Technologies
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| Applicable Sectors: |
Commercial,
Industrial,
Residential,
Nonprofit,
Schools,
State Government,
Fed. Government
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| Applicable Utilities: | Investor-owned utilities
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| System Capacity Limit: | No limit specified
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| Standard Agreement: | Yes |
| Insurance Requirements: | Amount not specified
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| External Disconnect Switch: | Required
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| Net Metering Required: | No |
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Authority 1:
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HRS § 269-101 et seq.
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| Date Effective: | 6/25/2001 (revised 2004, 2005, 2008) |
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Authority 2:
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HI PUC Order No. 19773
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| Date Enacted: | 11/15/2002 |
| Date Effective: | 11/15/2002 |
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Summary:
Hawaii has established simplified interconnection rules for small renewables and separate rules for all other distributed generation (DG). For inverter-based systems up to 10 kilowatts in capacity (and inverter-based DG under 250 kW on islands other than Kauai), there is a simple application process for interconnection. For other smaller systems, there are simplified interconnection procedures for net metering for solar, wind, biomass and hydro-electric systems up to 50 kW on Kauai and 100 kW in capacity on the other islands. These procedures are streamlined if the system uses an approved DC-AC inverter.
The state's largest electric utility, Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), which owns Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) and Maui Electric Company (MECO), uses a set of simple interconnection guidelines. HECO also uses a simple, net-metering agreement. A manual, lockable disconnect is required for net-metered systems, and mutual indemnification is required. The state's only other utility, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC), has a similar set of rules for net metering and interconnection.
Two dockets were opened in 2006 to streamline interconnection procedures: (1) PUC Docket No. 2006-0497 (Hawaiian Electric Co., Inc.; Hawaii Electric Light Co., Inc.; and Maui Electric Co., Ltd.); and (2) PUC Docket No. 2006-0498 (KIUC). The PUC issued a decision and order for each of these dockets in April and May 2008, and more streamlined procedures for interconnection have been adopted. KIUC provides small generating facilities under two megawatts (MW) a fast-track process, while larger systems must undergo more extensive review.
* In October 2003, the PUC initiated Docket No. 03-0371 to review and improve the state's DG interconnection rules. PUC Docket No. 03-0371 has been superseded by Docket Nos. 2006-0497 and 2006-0498.
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Please note: The information on the DSIRE web site provides an overview of incentives and other policies, but it should not be used as the only source of information when making purchasing decisions, investment decisions, tax decisions or other binding agreements. Please refer to the individual contact provided in each record to verify that a specific incentive or other policy is applicable to your specific project.
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