Maui Electric Co Ltd and solar
Maui Electric Co Ltd is an investor-owned utility serving about 61,877 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.)
- 45.2¢4% above Hawaii average
- Typical bill
- $227502 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~30%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 6.4 yrs3.3 kW, cash
Export rules for Maui Electric Co Ltd 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 Maui Electric Co Ltd home
| System | 3.3 kW (91% of 502 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $15,050, $10,050 after incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,562 |
| Payback | 6.4 years |
| 25-year net | $38,970 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 14,433
- Share of customers
- 23.3%
- Residential solar capacity
- 91 MW
- Residential customers
- 61,877
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about Maui Electric Co Ltd and solar
Does Maui Electric Co Ltd have net metering?
Maui Electric Co Ltd 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 Maui Electric Co Ltd?
Residential customers paid an average of 42.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 45.2¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 502 kWh a month, a bill of about $227.
Is solar worth it with Maui Electric Co Ltd?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 3.3 kW system costing about $10,050 pays back in about 6.4 years, with $38,970 net over 25 years.
How many Maui Electric Co Ltd customers have solar?
About 14,433 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 23.3% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Maui Electric Co Ltd (EIA ID 11843). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.