Hawaiian Electric is an investor-owned utility serving about 276,853 homes in Hawaii. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
Net billing (reduced export credit) — about 13.5¢ per exported kWh, instantaneous netting.
Midday 13.5 cents, overnight 18.9, peak 32.9. Batteries capture higher-value periods.
Smart Renewable Energy (SRE) Export: imports billed at retail; exports credited by time period; annual true-up, unused credits expire; rates locked 7 years, reset every 3 years
| System | 3.2 kW (89% of 468 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $14,700, $9,700 after incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,399 |
| Payback | 6.9 years |
| 25-year net | $34,012 |
Uses the utility's average price; time-of-use plans can change this, so pick your plan in the calculator.
Rates we verified from Hawaiian Electric's tariff documents. Prices are per kWh including the main riders where noted; check your bill for the plan you're on.
Plan for solar customers. Effective 2026-10-01. Fixed charge $15.30/month.
| Period | Price |
|---|---|
| All hours | 47.2¢ |
Effective (all-in) energy: first 350 kWh $0.458110, next 850 kWh $0.472055, over 1,200 kWh $0.494751 (period rate shows middle block).
Plan for solar customers. Effective 2026-10-01. Fixed charge $21.13/month.
| Period | Price |
|---|---|
| 9am–5pm | 23.5¢ |
| 5pm–9pm | 69.7¢ |
| 12am–9am, 9pm–12am | 46.6¢ |
EIA-861, 2025.
Midday 13.5 cents, overnight 18.9, peak 32.9. Batteries capture higher-value periods. Exported power is credited at about 13.5¢ per kWh.
Residential customers paid an average of 40.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 43.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 468 kWh a month, a bill of about $204.
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 3.2 kW system costing about $9,700 pays back in about 6.9 years, with $34,012 net over 25 years.
About 68,048 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 24.6% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Hawaiian Electric Co Inc (EIA ID 19547). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026, utility tariff sheets.