Hawaii Electric Light Co and solar
Hawaii Electric Light Co is an investor-owned utility serving about 79,318 homes in Hawaii. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 49.3¢13% above Hawaii average
- Typical bill
- $222450 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~27%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 6.9 yrs3 kW, cash
Export rules for Hawaii Electric Light Co customers
Net billing (reduced export credit) (Hawaii rule).
Hawaiian Electric ended net metering for new customers in 2015. New systems use the Smart DER tariff, which pays time-varying rates for exports: on Oahu about 13.5 cents midday, 18.9 cents overnight and 32.9 cents in the 5-9 pm peak. Because midday exports earn the least, most new systems include batteries. A battery program (BYOD) adds upfront and monthly payments.
Solar for a typical Hawaii Electric Light Co home
| System | 3 kW (70% of 450 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $14,000, $9,100 after incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,300 |
| Payback | 6.9 years |
| 25-year net | $32,827 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 15,557
- Share of customers
- 19.6%
- Residential solar capacity
- 93 MW
- Residential customers
- 79,318
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about Hawaii Electric Light Co and solar
Does Hawaii Electric Light Co have net metering?
Hawaii Electric Light Co follows Hawaii's rules: Hawaiian Electric ended net metering for new customers in 2015. New systems use the Smart DER tariff, which pays time-varying rates for exports: on Oahu about 13.5 cents midday, 18.9 cents overnight and 32.9 cents in the 5-9 pm peak. Because midday exports earn the least, most new systems include batteries. A battery program (BYOD) adds upfront and monthly payments.
How much does electricity cost with Hawaii Electric Light Co?
Residential customers paid an average of 45.8¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 49.3¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 450 kWh a month, a bill of about $222.
Is solar worth it with Hawaii Electric Light Co?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 3 kW system costing about $9,100 pays back in about 6.9 years, with $32,827 net over 25 years.
How many Hawaii Electric Light Co customers have solar?
About 15,557 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 19.6% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Hawaii Electric Light Co Inc (EIA ID 8287). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.