Energy Policies in Hawaii

             "On January 3, 2012, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission issued an Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards Framework, (EEPS), Decision and Order, (D&O) that approves a Framework for achieving the goal of 4,300 GWh of electricity use reductions statewide by 2030. The 4,300 GWh figure was derived by calculating 30% of the sum of the baseline electricity sales forecasts from the HECO Companies' third Integrated Resource Planning IRP processes and KIUC's 2005 IRP, extrapolated to 2030.  The Framework sets annual goals of 195 GWh, 5-year performance periods, and establishes a Technical Working Group (TWG) consisting of both commission-regulated and unregulated entities to work together toward achieving the EEPS.".
             On November 29, 2011, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission issued an Interconnection D&O that significantly improves Hawaii's distributed generation interconnection procedures, known as Rule 14H. The interconnection process was revised to include nine objective technical screens, reducing the scrutiny of the initial review process for smaller generators, and introducing a supplemental review process allowing generators that meet requirements to avoid more intensive study.  Revised Rule 14H provides a clear application timeline, and requires interconnection requirements studies (IRS) to be completed within 150 calendar days of the time a customer agrees to proceed with the IRS and pays for the study.
             In 2012, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has issued several orders related to the state's feed-in tariff. Most recently, the Commission extended an administrative hold on the FIT and confirmed that all systems must apply for a building permit on the same day or prior to filing a FIT application. Also, the baseline FIT rate was lowered and the FIT will undergo its first full re-evaluation by the end of the 2012.
             On August 31, 2010, the Commission issued a Decoupling Decision and Order, which will change the utility revenue model – basically disassociating utility profits from its sales of electricity so that the utility is not penalized for Hawaii's conservation and efficiency measures.