Hawaii Solar Export Rates vs Retail Electricity Rates: What Your Panels Earn, What Your Power Costs, and the Incentives Left in 2026
- Hawaii Solar Export Rates vs Retail Electricity Rates, Island by Island
- Hawaii Solar Incentives in 2026: What's Left and What Changed
- Storing Solar Instead of Exporting It: EcoFlow TITAN and EcoFlow TITAN Plus
- Which Hawaiian Electric Program Fits Your System
- Kauai Plays by Different Rules
- Run Your Own Numbers Before You Sign
- Conclusion
- FAQs
If you live on Oahu, two numbers explain most of your solar choices. In October 2026, a home on Hawaiian Electric's Schedule R paid about 45.8 cents per kWh for its first block of grid power. The same home earns just 13.5 cents for each kWh its panels send out between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. That's the heart of Hawaii solar export rates vs retail electricity rates. Below, you'll find each island's export credits beside its retail rate. You'll also see what incentives are left in 2026, plus a way to tell if storing solar beats exporting it.
Hawaii Solar Export Rates vs Retail Electricity Rates, Island by Island
Hawaii no longer credits new rooftop solar at the retail rate. Under Hawaiian Electric's Smart Renewable Energy (SRE) Export rider, exports earn a fixed credit. It changes by island and time of day. You still pay the full effective rate for grid power, fuel, and other charges included.
Your bill shows one brand, but three companies still file the tariffs. Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. serves Oahu, and Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. serves Hawaii Island. Maui Electric Company, Limited runs separate Maui, Lanai, and Molokai divisions. Kauai has its own utility, which we'll cover further down.
Credits come from Rule No. 32 (Sheet No. 49.40-H) for agreements signed April 2024 to April 2027, under PUC Order No. 40670. Retail figures are first-block charges from the October 2026 Effective Rate Summary. They leave out the customer charge and Green Infrastructure Fee.
Island | Operating company | Schedule R first-block effective energy charge, Oct. 1, 2026 | Export credit, Daytime 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Export credit, Evening peak 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Export credit, Overnight 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. |
Oahu. | Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. | 45.8110¢/kWh (first 350 kWh). | 13.5¢ | 32.9¢ | 18.9¢ |
Hawaii Island. | Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. | 46.8411¢/kWh (first 300 kWh). | 10.6¢ | 23.1¢ | 14.8¢ |
Maui. | Maui Electric Company, Limited (Maui Division). | 44.5901¢/kWh (first 350 kWh). | 6.6¢ | 18.2¢ | 13.1¢ |
Lanai. | Maui Electric Company, Limited (Lanai Division). | 60.7054¢/kWh (first 250 kWh). | 26.7¢ | 40.8¢ | 25.9¢ |
Molokai. | Maui Electric Company, Limited (Molokai Division). | 58.4223¢/kWh (first 250 kWh). | 17.9¢ | 27.2¢ | 17.4¢ |
Kauai. | Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. | Set by KIUC's own tariffs. | Not covered by Rule 32. | Not covered by Rule 32. | Not covered by Rule 32. |
Export credits are fixed for a new contract's first seven years. At the start of year eight, they update automatically, and then every three years after that. Retail rates move monthly, and higher blocks cost more (Oahu's next 850 kWh: 47.2055 cents). See Hawaiian Electric's SRE Export page for current credits.
Why daytime exports earn the least
Most rooftop solar is made between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., the lowest-paying window on Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Maui. On Lanai and Molokai, daytime and overnight credits are close. Both sit far below the evening peak.
The 5 to 9 p.m. peak pays the most, yet panels make little power then. Oahu's daytime credit is under a third of its first-block retail rate (13.5 versus 45.8110 cents), and Maui's is just 6.6 cents.
Two billing rules that cap what exports are worth
Credits can't push a bill below your schedule's minimum charge plus surcharges. Schedule R's base minimum is $25.00 a month for single-phase service, or $30.22 effective on Oahu in October 2026.
Banked credits are reconciled every 12 months, and any unused balance is set to zero. The one exception is BYOD Plus export credits, which don't expire. Under the old rules, each exported kWh offset one you bought. Knowing how classic net metering worked makes the new gap easier to see.
That gap is why incentives matter so much in 2026. With the federal credit gone, the state credit carries most upfront help.
Hawaii Solar Incentives in 2026: What's Left and What Changed
Hawaii solar incentives look different than a year ago. The federal homeowner credit is gone, and a 2026 law reshaped the state credit. Hawaiian Electric's battery incentive is the main utility program still open.
Incentive | What it offers | 2026 status |
State RETITC (HRS § 235-12.5) | 35% of solar cost, up to $5,000 per single-family system. | Changed by Act 24. |
BYOD Plus (Hawaiian Electric) | $400 per kW of battery capacity, or $800 for qualifying low- and moderate-income homes. Most participants also get a monthly credit under Rule 33. NEM and NEM Plus customers don't. | Open to May 14, 2030, or until 50 MW statewide. |
Federal credit (§ 25D) | Was 30% for solar and batteries. | Ended after Dec. 31, 2025. |
The IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit page confirms that cutoff. Many homeowners still expect 30% back. Learn how the federal credit changed before comparing quotes.
What Act 24 changed in the state credit
So what's left for solar incentives in Hawaii at the state level? Act 24 became law on May 21, 2026. It keeps the 35% rate and $5,000 per-system cap but adds a $40 million yearly cap on total credits for 2027 through 2030, plus a certification step. That cap already reaches 2026 systems: the Department of Taxation says it covers credits claimed in 2027 for systems installed and placed in service in 2026.
The income limit starts a year later. Adjusted gross income is capped at $175,000 for individuals or $350,000 for joint filers, but only for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026, so your 2026 tax return isn't subject to it. The credit itself won't apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2029.
Executive Order 26-02 exempts a 2026 system from the cap if it was done before May 21, 2026, or if the owner relied on the credit before then. The Department of Taxation's TIR 2026-02 explains the details. Check your eligibility with a tax professional.
What the BYOD Plus battery incentive asks in return
Only new batteries paired with renewable power qualify. You must commit at least 1 kW. In return, the battery discharges in a daily two-hour window you choose.
Battery Bonus hit its 40 MW cap on Oahu in December 2023. On Maui, it stayed open only until June 30, 2024, or until it reached 15 MW. BYOD Level 1 closed on May 15, 2025. Have your installer confirm your battery is eligible.
Incentives soften the upfront cost. The daily question remains: sell solar cheap at noon, or keep it for later?
Storing Solar Instead of Exporting It: EcoFlow TITAN and EcoFlow TITAN Plus
When a daytime kWh earns 13.5 cents on Oahu but an evening kWh costs about 45.8 cents, keeping solar for later makes sense. A home battery runs your house on your own solar after sunset. The right setup depends on your array, nighttime use, and island rates.
A no-export battery system doesn't sell power or earn export credits. Its only value is buying less power, which fits SRE Non-Export.
EcoFlow TITAN and EcoFlow TITAN Plus aren't on sale yet. Before buying, check that they're sold in Hawaii and a local installer offers them. The equipment also needs approval through Hawaiian Electric's Customer Interconnection Tool. Every system on its grid needs an interconnection agreement, even a non-export one.
On EcoFlow TITAN Plus, X-Fusion 2.0 AC coupling through Smart Home Panel 10 lets it work with compatible third-party rooftop solar in no-export mode. PV Boost also lifts its output from 7.2kW to up to 10kW while compatible solar produces. If you already have panels, ask your installer how either model would connect to that system, and keep in mind that local utility rules apply.
Bigger arrays and heavier evening loads need more solar input and output. That's where the second model fits.
Neither model sells power or changes export credits. Residential TOU schedules (TOU-R, TOU-RI, Shift and Save) are closed to new customers. So scheduling matters mostly for using stored solar at night. Sizing a battery for evenings starts with listing what actually runs from 5 to 9 p.m.
Once you know whether to export or store, pick the right program. Most old program names online are closed.
Which Hawaiian Electric Program Fits Your System
Hawaiian Electric has two main rooftop programs for new systems, plus a battery add-on. Older programs like Customer Self-Supply, Customer Grid-Supply Plus, and Smart Export are closed. So your first choice is simple: export or no export.
Program | Exports allowed? | Credit for exports | Status for new customers | Source |
Smart Renewable Energy (SRE) Export. | Yes. | Time-of-day export credits (see the island table above), fixed 7 years for new contracts. | Open. | Rule 32, Order No. 40670. |
SRE Non-Export. | No (inadvertent export accepted "solely as an accommodation," not paid). | None. | Open. Storage allowed. Expedited review. | Rule 32. SRE Non-Export page. |
BYOD Plus. | Battery discharges in a 2-hour daily window. | Upfront $/kW plus fixed monthly credit. | Open until 50 MW statewide. | Rule 33, Order No. 41684. |
Customer Self-Supply (CSS). | No. | None. | Closed to new enrollments after March 31, 2024. May move to SRE Non-Export. | Rule 22. |
Customer Grid-Supply (CGS) and CGS Plus. | Yes. | Legacy fixed credits. | Closed to new enrollments after March 31, 2024. Customers move to SRE Export 7 years after their contract date (transitions began Oct. 1, 2024). | Rules 23 and 24. |
Smart Export. | Yes. | Legacy. | Closed to new enrollments after March 31, 2024. Same 7-year transition. | Rule 25. |
Net Energy Metering (NEM). | Yes. | Retail-rate netting. | Closed to new applicants. Agreements and complete applications filed before Oct. 13, 2015 stay on NEM. | Rule 18. Hawaiian Electric NEM page. |
Both SRE programs require Schedule R, G, or J (including TOU variants) and an advanced meter. The PUC closed its DER docket (No. 2019-0323) with Order No. 41866 on August 8, 2025. The PUC's August 2025 announcement named two next steps: a virtual power plant study and broader TOU rates. It set no new export rates.
All of these programs belong to Hawaiian Electric. Kauai homeowners need a different set of rules before any of these numbers apply.
Kauai Plays by Different Rules
Kauai isn't part of Hawaiian Electric's system. Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) is a member-owned co-op. It has its own PUC-approved tariffs and interconnection process. Hawaiian Electric's Rule 32 export credits and BYOD Plus don't apply there.
Check kiuc.coop or call KIUC for current solar options, export pay, and interconnection steps. Have your installer confirm any battery is approved for KIUC's grid.
The state-level solar incentives Hawaii offers still reach Kauai. The RETITC and the end of federal 25D apply there as elsewhere.
Next, a quick example compares exporting a kWh with storing it. You can rerun it with yours.
Run Your Own Numbers Before You Sign
Compare what one kWh earns exported with what it saves used later. This example uses Oahu's October 2026 figures, so swap in yours.
A labeled example (not a forecast)
Oahu's Schedule R first-block charge is 45.8110 cents per kWh (October 1, 2026). The SRE Export daytime credit is 13.5 cents (Rule 32, Sheet 49.40-H). The home shifts 10 kWh of daytime solar a day for 30 days.
Option | Math | Result |
Export it. | 10 kWh × 30 days × $0.135. | $40.50 in bill credits. |
Store it and use it in the evening. | 10 kWh × 0.85 × 30 days × $0.458110. | About $116.82 in grid purchases avoided. |
Difference. | $116.82 minus $40.50. | About $76.32 for that 30-day period. |
The 0.85 assumes 85% of stored energy is usable after losses. It's a planning assumption, not a product spec.
The difference can shrink. The 85% may be off, fixed charges still apply, rates change monthly, and some homes use under 10 kWh at night. Usage above the first block costs more, though. SRE Non-Export has no export option. There, the choice is storage versus wasting excess.
Questions to ask before signing
These cover what changes the math most. Get answers in writing.
How big is the array, and how much does the house use from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.?
Export or Non-Export? Does the quote include interconnection and an advanced meter?
Will the battery be enrolled in BYOD Plus, and is that specific battery eligible?
Was the system completed or committed before May 21, 2026 (for the RETITC cap exemption under EO 26-02)?
For cap updates, check the Hawaii State Energy Office's RETITC page. Do you export most of your daytime output? Then comparing self-consumption versus sending power out can show if storage is worth adding.
Conclusion
In Hawaii, exported solar earns far less than grid power costs, especially from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The state tax credit and BYOD Plus are the main incentives left. Act 24 now caps the state credit and limits it by income. Federal 25D is gone. Pull your island's numbers and choose SRE Export or Non-Export. Then size storage to your evening use. If storing solar fits your home, EcoFlow TITAN and EcoFlow TITAN Plus are coming soon. Check availability, installation, and interconnection with your installer and utility first.
FAQs
How much does Hawaiian Electric pay for exported solar?
It depends on your island and the time of day. Under SRE Export, Oahu homes earn 13.5 cents per kWh from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 32.9 cents from 5 to 9 p.m., and 18.9 cents overnight. New agreements lock these rates in for seven years, but grid power prices still change monthly.
Is net metering still available in Hawaii?
Not for new customers. Only agreements and complete applications filed before October 13, 2015 stay on NEM. New systems join SRE Export or SRE Non-Export instead, and neither credits exports at the full retail rate.
What solar incentives are available in Hawaii in 2026?
The main ones are the state RETITC and Hawaiian Electric's BYOD Plus. For a solar electric system on a single-family home, the state credit covers 35% of the cost, up to $5,000 per eligible system. Act 24 adds income limits and a $40 million yearly cap for 2027 through 2030. BYOD Plus pays $400 per kW of committed battery capacity, or $800 for qualifying low- and moderate-income homes. The federal 25D credit isn't available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
Do I get paid if my system is non-export?
Not from SRE Non-Export alone, since that program pays no ordinary export credits. Most of your savings come from buying less grid power. If you add a qualifying new battery, you can enroll it separately in BYOD Plus for an upfront incentive and a monthly credit. Ask your installer whether your battery qualifies before you count on it.
Do these rates apply on Kauai?
No. Kauai is served by KIUC, not Hawaiian Electric, so Rule 32 export credits and BYOD Plus don't apply there. The state RETITC still does. Check kiuc.coop or call KIUC for current solar and battery rules before you sign.
For press requests or interview opportunities, reach out to our media team
media.na@ecoflow.com