The green future for Kauai is getting brighter thanks to KIUC's community-based renewables program with seeks to make the benefits of solar energy and other renewables more accessible to a greater number of people. While KIUC's customers are automatically a member and part of these initiatives, some customers were able to benefit from rooftop solar.
Because installing rooftop solar was not an option for many of its customers, and, as a way to get more people to install solar systems, and at the same time, to mitigate the risk of curtailment, or wasted energy, it recently began implementing a time-of-use solar rate pilot program. This program will provide customers with incentives to modify their usage patterns by shifting more usage to periods when excess generation from PV is occurring.
Participants in KIUC’s community renewables program must have a smart meter and be unable to install their own rooftop solar system, among other rules. KIUC submitted its projected rates and guidelines to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission for approval this week. The PUC still needs to approve both proposals. Community renewables was mandated by Act 100, which was signed by Gov. David Ige in June.