Hawaiian Electric will soon be required to let independent power producers use its grid to sell electricity directly to customers—a shift that could end its century-old monopoly and open the door to lower rates. (NewsFromTheStates)
Starting in 2027, Hawai’i’s new “wheeling” law will let smaller producers pay a set fee to transmit power over HECO’s infrastructure, a model long used on the mainland but previously banned in the state.
Advocates say the law could spur innovation, local microgrids, and more rooftop solar, while critics warn of equity risks if wealthier customers defect and leave others stuck with rising grid costs.