Lower electric vehicle charge rates available for Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii Island

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved the Hawaiian Electric companies’ pilot Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Rates and customers may now apply to take advantage of the rates. The rates are designed to encourage early adoption of electric vehicles and incentivize customers to charge EVs during off-peak times of the day that best match the islands’ grid needs.

The pilot EV rates will be open to 1,000 customers on Oahu, 300 in Maui County and 300 on Hawaii Island for charging highway-capable, four-wheeled electric vehicles. The pilot will remain in effect for three years.

“Offering special electric vehicle charging rates is an important step toward a clean energy future,” said Scott Seu, Hawaiian Electric vice president for energy resources. “EVs are coming and we are striving to make Hawaii EV-ready for our customers. We will gain early experience with these new rates and apply it to maximize the benefits that EVs can bring.”

To encourage off-peak vehicle charging, optional lower rates will be offered from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.  For residential customers on Oahu, the EV charge rate will be about six cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) below the standard rate and neighbor island residential off-peak charging will be about seven to 10 cents per kWh lower. Charging during on-peak times will be possible, but at about three cents per kWh above the standard rate. Charging during off-peak times is encouraged to take more advantage of off-peak renewable energy and to avoid increasing on-peak demand.

More information about Hawaiian Electric companies’ pilot EV Charging Rates is available at

http://goev.heco.com. To initiate sign up for the new rate, customers with an EV or who plan to buy one can:

•Call 808-543-GoEV (4638);

•Email to [email protected]; or

•Write to Hawaiian Electric Company GoEV, CP-10 SR, P.O. Box 2750, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96840-0001.