Hawaiian Electric Co.’s (HECO) Grid Supply program is closing permanently this week. If you have not submitted an application by Oct. 21, you will not have the option to build a photovoltaic (PV) solar system that exports electricity to the grid.
To determine if Grid Supply is right for you, ask yourself these questions: Do I feel like I missed out on HECO’s Net Energy Metering program? Would I like to save 70-80 percent off my electric bill? Do I want to go solar without including batteries to store energy for nighttime use?
If you answered, “Yes” to any of these questions, then Grid Supply is the program for you.
How it works
During daylight hours, PV systems generate electricity to power your home. Electricity produced beyond your home’s immediate needs is exported to the electric grid and you are credited $0.15/ kwh when you buy it back at night.
To put it simply, your daytime electricity is “free” and your nighttime electricity is “half-off.” Most homeowners see savings of 70-80 percent off their current electric bill by installing solar under the Grid Supply program. You also can include batteries with your Grid Supply PV system, but they are not required.
Recommendations for a successful application are:
• Start immediately. HECO will not accept late applications, and some parts of the application require research. Also, plan to postmark your application by Oct. 20.
• Make an appointment with a trusted solar installer to help complete your application. The installer will need to provide HECO with electrical drawings and details about system components along with photos of your meter and electrical panel.
• Submit a Customer Self-Supply application as well. The Grid Supply program is still subject to circuit saturation (the amount of solar in your neighborhood), so if you suspect your neighborhood might be “saturated,” you may want to have a Plan B. HECO will process both applications at the same time, and it won’t cost extra or obligate you to build either system.
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