Microgrid Services Tariff

In 2021, Hawaii became only the second state with a formal microgrid services tariff, following California. A microgrid – like a traditional, centralized electric grid – can generate, distribute, and regulate the supply of electricity to customers, but locally and on a smaller scale. Microgrids can provide “grid-interactive solutions” using internet connections for utility grid flexibility and resilience to meet the demand for continuous supply of electric power.

The Public Utilities Commission approved the tariff, effective May 27, 2021 as Rule 30. This foundational “Phase 1” tariff sets the definitions and process for customer and hybrid systems to interconnect with the Hawaiian Electric grid. More information is detailed in this news release.

The Microgrid Services Tariff applies to two types of microgrids:

• Customer microgrid where a customer’s infrastructure is exclusively used to supply all their own electricity needs during emergencies (most common for residential and small commercial situations)
• Hybrid microgrid in which an operator may combine utility infrastructure and customer infrastructure to supply electricity to microgrid members during an emergency (more common for large commercial or government agency customers)

The Microgrid Services Tariff currently does NOT cover the following types of microgrids:

• Hybrid microgrids with peak demand over 3MW on Oahu, 1MW on Maui and Hawaii Island, and 0.5MW on Lanai and Molokai
• Hybrid microgrids that operate in “island-mode” under non-emergency conditions
• Utility or utility-private partnership microgrids
• Remote or virtual microgrids

Customers who already have installed a system of solar-plus-storage that could function as a microgrid through an existing program (i.e. Customer Grid Supply Plus, Customer Self Supply, NEM Plus, or Standard Interconnection Agreement) do not need to reapply for this tariff. Moving forward, customers may continue to apply through their respective Customer Renewable Program and indicate on their initial submission if their system is to be used as a customer microgrid.

If a customer is interested creating a hybrid microgrid, please submit a completed Hybrid Microgrid Application in addition to the appropriate customer renewable program application.

Currently, no additional financial incentives from Hawaiian Electric for either a customer or hybrid microgrid are available beyond the existing programs. Possible incentive payments will be discussed with other topics in the second phase of this proceeding. Timing for these discussions will be set by the Public Utilities Commission.

Contact Information

For questions regarding the Microgrid Services Tariff, please contact: mark.wong@hawaiianelectric.com

Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Orders

• Order 38710: Suspending the Phase 2 Procedural Schedule (Docket 2018-0163, November 21, 2022) (PDF)
• Order 38293: Prioritizes issues for resolution in Phase 2 of this docket and establishing a Phase 2 procedural schedule (Docket No. 2018-0163, April 1, 2022) (PDF)
• Decision and Order 37786: Approves a Microgrid Services Tariff (Docket No. 2018-0163, May 17, 2021) (PDF)
• Order No. 36481: Prioritize items for resolution in this docket and making determinations on issues raised by the preliminary questions in Order No. 35884 (Docket No. 2018-0163, August 20, 2019) (PDF)
• Order No. 36106: Provides additional guidance for opening briefs and extending deadline for reply briefs (Docket No. 2018-0163, January 22, 2019) (PDF)
• Order No. 35884: Grants the motions to intervene, scheduling technical conferences, and setting deadlines (Docket No. 2018-0163, November 21, 2018) (PDF)
• Order No. 35566: Opens a docket to investigate establishment of a microgrid services tariff (Docket No. 2018-0163, July 10, 2018) (PDF)

Announcements

• November 9, 2022: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. HST
• October 27, 2022: PUC Status Conference scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. HST
• October 19, 2022: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. HST
• September 28, 2022: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. HST
• August 30, 2022: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. HST
• August 9, 2022: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. HST
• July 28, 2022: PUC Status Conference scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. HST
• July 12, 2022: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. HST
• June 16, 2022: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. HST
• May 17, 2022: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. HST
• May 5, 2022: PUC Status Update
• April 29, 2022: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. HST
• January 28, 2022: PUC Technical Conference
• May 27, 2021: Phase 1 Microgrid Services Tariff effective as Rule 30
• February 17, 2021: Microgrid Resources Coalition, Division of the Consumer Advocate, and Hawaiian Electric filed its responses to the Parties' Comments
• February 10, 2021: Microgrid Resources Coalition, Division of the Consumer Advocate, and Hawaiian Electric filed its comments ("Parties' Comments") to the Feb. 1, 2021 filing
• February 1, 2021: Working Group filed redlines to the Tariff and highlighted areas of disagreement
• January 21, 2021: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. HST
• January 20, 2021: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. HST
• January 14, 2021: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. HST
• January 11, 2021: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. HST
• January 5, 2021: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. HST
• December 21, 2020: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. HST
• December 10, 2020: PUC issued letter providing guidance
• November 30, 2020: PUC Technical Conference
• April 27, 2020: Microgrid Resources Coalition, Ulupono, and Consumer Advocate filed comments to Hawaiian Electric’s draft Microgrid Services Tariff
• March 30, 2020: Hawaiian Electric files draft Microgrid Services Tariff
• February 27, 2020: PUC Technical Conference
• February 14, 2020: Working Group Report filed with the PUC
• February 6, 2020: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. HST
• January 17, 2020: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. HST
• January 9, 2020: PUC Status Update
• December 13, 2019: Draft Tariff, Modifications to Rule 14H and Rule 24 provided to Working Group for Review
• December 3, 2019: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. HST
• November 21, 2019: Working Group Meeting scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. HST
• November 14, 2019: PUC held a Working Group status update
• November 5, 2019: Working Group Webinar scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. HST
• October 14, 2019: Working group symposium held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. HST
• October 3, 2019: Working group kickoff held from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. HST
• August 20, 2019: PUC issued Order No. 36481
• January 22, 2019: PUC issued Order No. 36106
• January 9, 2019: PUC held a technical conference
• July 10, 2018: Governor Ige signed Act 200 into law. PUC issued Order No. 35566 opening docket No. 2018-0163.

Microgrid Services Tariff Documents

• September 28 2022: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes
• August 30, 2022: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes
• August 9, 2022: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes
• July 28, 2022: MST WG PUC Status Conference Presentation (PDF)
• July 12, 2022: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes
• June 16, 2022: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes
• May 17, 2022: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes
• May 5, 2022: MST WG PUC Status Conference Presentation (PDF)
• April 29, 2022: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• January 28, 2022: MST WG PUC Technical Conference Presentation (PDF)
• February 17, 2021: Hawaiian Electric filed its responses to the Parties’ Feb. 10 Comments (PDF)
• February 10, 2021: Hawaiian Electric filed its comments to the Feb. 1, 2021 filing (PDF)
• February 1, 2021: Working Group filed redlines to the Tariff and highlighted areas of disagreement (PDF)
• January 21, 2021: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• January 20, 2021: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• January 14, 2021: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• January 11, 2021: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• January 5, 2021: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• December 21, 2020: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes (DOCX)
  • MST WG Presentation Revised (PDF)
• December 10, 2020: PUC Letter Providing Guidance (PDF)
• November 30, 2020: PUC Technical Conference (PDF)
• March 30, 2020: Hawaiian Electric draft Microgrid Services Tariff (PDF)
• February 27, 2020: PUC Technical Conference (PDF)
• February 14, 2020: Working Group Report filed with the PUC (PDF)
• February 6, 2020: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• January 17, 2020: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• January 9, 2020: MST WG PUC Status Update Presentation (PDF)
• December 3, 2019: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• November 21, 2019: MST WG Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• November 14, 2019: MST WG PUC Status Update Presentation (PDF)
• November 5, 2019: MST WG Webinar Presentation (PDF)
  • Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• October 14, 2019: MST WG Symposium Presentation (PDF)
  • Working Group Symposium Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• October 3, 2019: Working Group Kick-Off Presentation (PDF)
  • Working Group Kick-Off Meeting Minutes (PDF)
• September 19, 2019: PUC Microgrid Technical Conference (PDF)