HECO asks regulators to simplify electric vehicle charging rates

Dive Brief:

Seeking to take advantage of growing solar generation and interest in electric vehicles, Hawaiian Electric has proposed new charging rates which simplify the signup process and expand off-peak hours.
In addition to the new rates, HECO plans to install up to 25 DC fast chargers across Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii Island to alleviate EV drivers’ anxiety about how far they can travel.
The new charging rates define peak hours as 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Oahu would allow home EV charging for 6.1 cents/kWh.

Dive Insight:

Rooftop solar is growing rapidly in Hawaii, and interest in electric vehicles is picking up as well, according to officials at HECO. So the utility is attempting to simplify its EV charging rates, expanding the number of off-peak hours to include more time when cheap solar is being produced.

“The proposed new rates will help make greater use of that solar electricity and accelerate EV adoption in Hawaii,” Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president for customer service, said in a statement.

“EV numbers continue to increase and automakers are bringing more advanced plug-in electric vehicles to market. And with over 70,000 customers statewide who have or will soon have rooftop solar, we see increasing amounts of excess solar electricity available at mid-day,” he said.

The utility is recommending that customers currently enrolled the EV charging pilot be allowed to continue those rates until it expires in September. HECO also asked the Public Utilities Commission suggest the new rates go into effect at the end of September, and remain in effect until June 30, 2020, when all EV rates would be re-considered .

The new off-peak rate would be 6.1 cents/kWh on Oahu, 9.2 cents/kWh on Hawaii Island, and 7.3 cents/kWh on Maui. HECO said that for commercial customers, the proposed new EV rates will waive demand charges during off-peak periods and eliminate demand charge minimums.

The new rates will also make signing up simpler, with customers only needing to certify ownership of a plug-in electric vehicle.