Public Utilities Commission

On February 27, 2015, Randy Iwase, Chair of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and Alan Oshima, President and CEO of Hawaii Electric Company, signed an agreement to address the present matter concerning residential interconnections and the issuance of letters of general application relating to the denial or delay of interconnection of residential rooftop photovoltaic systems […]

In order to facilitate stakeholder review of the HECO Companies’ filings, the Commission has uploaded the following electronic files to the Commission’s website. Background On August 7, 2014, the Commission opened Docket No. 2014-0183 to consolidate and review the HECO Companies’ Power Supply Improvement Plans (“PSIPs”), which had been previously ordered in three separate dockets. […]

Honolulu – The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“PUC” or “Commission”) approved, with certain conditions, a Joint Plan for the administration of the Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) program queues to address important issues and promptly move “shovel ready” projects to completion.  The FIT program is a set of standardized, published rates under which each of the HECO Companies […]

The 4th Annual Hawaii Power Summit, “Charting the New Course,” convened Hawaii’s energy sector stakeholders on December 3 and 4, 2014 to dialogue about how Hawaii can move meaningfully towards a modern 21st century power delivery system. Commissioner Lorraine Akiba delivered the keynote address, “Charting the New Course” highlighting the 4R’s: of Renewable Energy, on […]

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) yesterday denied the Hawaiian Electric Company’s (HECO) request for a waiver from the competitive bidding (CB) framework for its 15 megawatt Kahe Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Project (Kahe PV Project), thereby rendering the decision to approve the project moot in Decision and Order No. 32437 in Docket No. 2013-0360.

On October 23, 2014, Commissioner Akiba represented the State of Hawaii and participated in the World Green Energy Forum 2014 as a guest speaker for a session titled “Energy Storage System-led Paradigm Shift in Electric Power Industry.“ The forum was sponsored by the Korea Energy Economics Institute “KEEI”, a national policy research institute of the […]

Greentech Media in partnership with Caltech’s Resnick Sustainability Institute recently released a report outlining a comprehensive pathway for rebuilding California’s distribution grid. The report, titled, More Than Smart: A Framework to Make the Distribution Grid More Open, Efficient, and Resilient, outlines a clear path and framework to move from today’s centralized transmission planning infrastructure to […]

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has repealed Hawaii Administrative Rule (“HAR”) § 6-74-7, relating to ownership criteria for qualifying cogeneration and small power production facilities, because the rule has become null and void due to a revision of federal law. Notice of Repeal of Hawaii Administrative Rule § 6-74-7 Related Information HAR Chapter 6-74 – […]

Honolulu — The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“PUC” or “Commission”) is inviting public comment to provide transparency and community input in the review of the “Power Supply Improvement Plans” (“PSIPs”) and Distributed General Interconnection Plan (“DGIP”) filed by the Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (“HECO”), Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. (“HELCO”), and Maui Electric Company, Limited […]

Honolulu – On April 28, 2014 the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“PUC” or “Commission”) ordered the Hawaiian Electric Companies (“HECO Companies”) to develop and implement major improvement action plans to aggressively pursue energy cost reductions, proactively respond to emerging renewable energy integration challenges, improve the interconnection process for customer-sited solar photovoltaic (“PV”) systems, and embrace […]

Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”) is inviting public comment on the Integrated Demand Response Portfolio Plan (“IDRPP”) filed by the Hawaiian Electric Companies (“HECO Companies”).1 The IDRPP was filed on July 28, 2014, in response to the PUC’s “Policy Statement And Order Regarding Demand Response Programs” (“DR Policy Statement”), issued on April 28, 2014. The DR […]

HONOLULU – On Friday, May 30, 2014, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”) issued an order approving the annual “sales decoupling” tariff filings for the Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., the Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., and the Maui Electric Company, Limited. Press Release Related Information Order No. 31289 – INITIATING INVESTIGATION; Public Utilities Commission; Docket […]

(Washington, DC – May 6, 2014) The Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS) announced today this year’s recipients of its Demand Response and Smart Grid Leadership Awards. The recipients are Audrey Zibelman, Chair, New York Department of Public Service; Ann Berwick, Chair, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities; Kelly Speakes-Backman, Commissioner, Maryland Public Service […]

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) announced four major decisions and orders that collectively provide key policy, resource planning, and operational directives to the Hawaiian Electric Companies (HECO Companies). The orders require the HECO Companies to develop and implement major improvement action plans to aggressively pursue energy cost reductions, proactively respond to emerging renewable energy […]

By Kate Zerrenner – Hawaii recently topped the national rankings for energy saving initiatives for the second year in a row. In August, the Energy Services Coalition (ESC) granted the state its ‘Race to the Top’ award for modeling excellence in energy and water efficiency. ESC’s Race to the Top challenge ranks states based on […]

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”) issued yesterday a set of orders: (1) addressing the Final Oahu 200 megawatts (“MW”) Renewable Energy Request For Proposal (“RFP”) by Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (“HECO”) and giving specific guidance on changes to the RFP; (2) opening an investigation to determine whether an Oahu-Maui Interisland Transmission System […]

PUBLIC NOTICE – Starting July 1, 2013, individuals may electronically file (eFile) non-confidential documents and pay electronically (ePayment) for documents requiring a fee pursuant to §6-61-24, Hawai`i Administrative Rules, with the Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission (Commission) via the Commission’s Document Management System (DMS). For more information about eFiling, visit the Commission’s website at: https://puc.hawaii.gov/. Public […]

Noting that ratepayers at each of the HECO Companies are growing increasingly frustrated by high electric rates and poor customer service, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (Commission) issued three orders affecting rates and the ratemaking process for the Hawaiian Electric Companies1 on Friday, May 31, 2013. “Taken together, the decisions are intended to hold the […]

HONOLULU – In a Decision and Order issued today, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (Commission) approved revisions to the HECO Companies’ Tariff Rule 14H, which governs the interconnection of distributed generating facilities, such as solar photovoltaic systems, operating in parallel with the HECO Companies’ electrical distribution system. The revisions are intended to facilitate increased penetration […]

HONOLULU – Governor Neil Abercrombie announced the appointment of Michael Champley as commissioner to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on September 15, 2011. He began serving on the PUC on an interim basis after being sworn into office on September 22. His appointment is subject to confirmation by the Hawaii State Senate when the […]

HONOLULU – In a letter to Governor Neil Abercrombie dated August 5, 2011, Carlito P. Caliboso, resigned as a Commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”), effective as of the close of business on August 31, 2011, which will be his last day in office.

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (Commission) today issued an order approving feed-in tariffs (FIT) for the Hawaiian Electric Companies (Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, and Maui Electric Company) for renewable energy generators of up to 500 kW in size, to facilitate the acquisition and development of renewable energy in Hawaii. The […]

On September 23, 2010, the Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) issued its final Decision and Order approving an increase in annual revenues of $548,682 over previously existing rates (an increase of approximately 126.52%) for Molokai Public Utilities, Inc. (“MPU”), based on a test year period from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, and a total […]

HONOLULU – Today, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) issued a Decision and Order approving applicable portions of Hawaiian Telcom, Inc.’s and Hawaiian Telcom Services Company, Inc.’s (collectively, “Hawaiian Telcom”) Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization (the “Reorganization Plan”). The Reorganization Plan was previously confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of […]

HONOLULU – Today, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) issued an Interim Decision and Order approving Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines LLC’s (“Pasha”) application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (“CPCN”). The Interim Decision and Order authorizes Pasha to operate as a water carrier of property between and among the ports of Honolulu, Kahului, […]

HONOLULU – To encourage the Hawaiian Electric Companies (Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, and Maui Electric Light Company) to accelerate the adoption of clean energy resources, including renewable energy generation and energy efficiency programs, the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission (Commission) today approved a decoupling mechanism that is designed to de-link the Hawaiian Electric […]

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission (PUC) announced today that it has established Solar Water Heater Systems Standards (standards) as required under Act 204, passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Linda Lingle in 2008.

HONOLULU — Today, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) announced that it was forced to open a proceeding on Monday to consider giving temporary rate increases to two regulated water utilities and one regulated sewer utility on Molokai, because the utilities stated that they are unable to adequately fund their operations and plan to cease […]