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HECO rooftop solar programs face delays amid industry concerns

Hawaiʻi State Energy Office

Hawaiian Electric is delaying the launch of its new programs for residents with rooftop solar.

It involves how customers are compensated for providing energy to the grid.

The new programs, called Smart DER and Bring-Your-Own-Device, were supposed to launch on March 1.

That start date has been pushed back by a month to April 1.

Some solar energy advocates have criticized the new initiatives, saying they won't provide the same incentives to customers compared to the programs HECO is phasing out.

The Public Utilities Commission gave the utility an extra month to make revisions to the new DER program structure "in response to comments from the solar industry," according to a statement from HECO.

Savannah Harriman-Pote is the energy and climate change reporter. She is also the lead producer of HPR's "This Is Our Hawaiʻi" podcast. Contact her at sharrimanpote@hawaiipublicradio.org.
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