SB 202 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

SB 202 requires electric utilities to pay customer-generators (like homeowners with solar panels) for excess electricity they send back to the grid, replacing previous credit systems. This directly affects residential and commercial customers who generate their own renewable energy. The bill mandates that utilities compensate these customers for surplus power at a specific rate, ensuring fair payment for contributions to the grid. It passed committee with amendments in February 2025 and aims to support distributed renewable energy adoption.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

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What changed between versions

SB202 → SB202_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill update clarifies that electric utilities must purchase unused solar energy credits from homeowners at the end of any twelve-month period, rather than just at the end of a specific year. It also explicitly exempts member-owned cooperative electric utilities from these compensation requirements. Additionally, the bill specifies that the compensation rate for unused credits will be set by the Public Utilities Commission for the relevant time period.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly excludes member-owned cooperative electric utilities from the requirement to compensate customer-generators for excess electricity credits.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the timing for credit purchase from the end of the calendar year to the end of any twelve-month period, providing more flexibility for homeowners.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a specific exemption stating that member-owned cooperative electric utilities are not subject to the compensation requirements.

DEFINITION

Updated terminology to refer to 'customer-generators' instead of 'electricity producers' to better reflect the role of residential solar owners.

FISCAL

Changed the mechanism for setting compensation rates from the 'retail rate' to a rate established by the Public Utilities Commission.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 213) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 3:02PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to EIG, CPN.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors