WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — Hawaiian Electric Companies is proposing changes to its power rates that would encourage residents to use electricity when solar and wind power resources are most productive. ADVERTISING WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — Hawaiian Electric Companies is proposing
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — Hawaiian Electric Companies is proposing changes to its power rates that would encourage residents to use electricity when solar and wind power resources are most productive.
The utility — the parent company of Maui Electric Co. — recently announced the proposed time-of-use power rates. The proposal still needs to be approved by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission.
Current residential rates for Maui County are 26.3 cents per kilowatt hour on Maui, 30.7 cents per kilowatt hour on Molokai and 32.2 cents per kilowatt hour on Lanai.
Under the proposed changes, the rates would decrease during midday power use from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
The utility company said in its announcement the time-of-use rates would be most beneficial for residential customers in the midday to wash and dry clothes, cook or operate the air conditioning at home. The second-best option would be to use power at times from midnight-9 a.m.
HECO recommended the new rate options “to help customers gain more control over their electric bills, support increased use of renewable energy and promote the adoption of new technologies such as energy storage and electric vehicles.”
The time-of-use power rates would be voluntary, the utility company said.
The utility company also proposed time-of-use rates for the state’s public schools in an effort to keep classroom temperatures cool at an affordable price.
