Here on Kauai, we are constantly working towards becoming a greener island as far as renewable energy is concerned. Solar is an exciting opportunity for cleaner energy on our beautiful Garden Isle. KIUC's "Time-of-Use Solar Pilot Program" will offer discounted rates to a group of residential customers to encourage them to shift their energy use to the daylight hours to take advantage of the utility's robust solar resources.
The issue with solar energy is that often the energy that is generated is wasted as it's not used during its most plentiful times. The goals of KIUC's new program are to broaden community participation in renewable energy programs and reduce the potential for solar energy to be curtailed, ie: not put to use when it's most plentiful.
With more than 50 megawatts of electricity generated during the day by utility-scale and rooftop photovoltaic systems on Kauai, a key measure of the program’s success is the ability of customers to move a significant amount of their energy use from night to day to take advantage of the lower rates, a practice known as “shifting load.” This will be a 1 year program with 300 residential customers who have smart meters.