Customer Incentive Programs
Bring Your Own Device Plus
Receive cash incentives for adding new energy storage to a rooftop solar system
The Bring Your Own Device Plus (BYOD Plus) program is about harnessing the extra battery power in households to help Hawaii on its clean energy journey. By participating in BYOD Plus, you're not just a participant; you're a partner in our collective effort towards a greener future. As Hawaiian Electric moves away from fossil fuels, your contribution directly adds renewable energy to the grid when it’s needed most, making a positive impact on our environment and community. Let's work together to power Hawaii forward towards a sustainable goal of 100% clean energy by 2045.
The BYOD Plus program offers customers incentives for purchasing a new battery and a customer-selected two-hour window everyday throughout the program participation duration. The battery will primarily serve the customer’s household first and any remaining excess will be the target for BYOD Plus usage.
Quick Facts
- BYOD Plus offers benefits to customers who want to purchase a new battery for their PV system.
- In addition to an upfront incentive based on the kW committed to the program, BYOD Plus customers will also receive monthly export credits for the energy sent to Hawaiian Electric at the retail rate of customer’s current billing rate.
- BYOD Plus is available for Smart Renewable Energy (SRE) Export and Smart Renewable Energy Non-Export. Pairing BYOD Plus with these programs allows you to get additional incentives in the form of bill credits by installing energy storage that serves the home and also the electric grid.
- BYOD Plus is also available for previous DER programs such as Net Energy Metering, Net Energy Metering Plus, Customer Grid-Supply, Customer Self-Supply, Customer Grid-Supply Plus and Smart Export. Keep in mind that while energy storage of any capacity may be added to these legacy DER programs, any additional PV capacity is limited to up to 1 kW.
Apply for this program online using our Customer Interconnection Tool.
Rates and Plan Details
Incentives
Upfront incentive: $400 per kW committed with no maximum cap. There is also a Low-Moderate Income (LMI) Adder that provides an additional upfront incentive of $400 per kW committed with no maximum cap. This incentive is proportional to the kW committed and is provided once after contract execution. If a lease is signed to install a battery system, then the leasing company is the system owner and therefore eligible for the upfront incentive.
Monthly export credit: Provided every month for the energy drawn from the battery calculated based on an assumed exported amount to the grid. Net Energy Metering (NEM) and NEM Plus customers will receive kWh bill credits for BYOD Plus participation, shown on the customer’s bill as an increase in kWh exports ("REC KWH"). Participants with an underlying tariff other than NEM (e.g., CGS, CGS Plus) will receive a fixed monthly export credit, calculated via a formula detailed in Rule 33, shown on the customer’s bill as a separate line item ("Monthly Export Credit").
For example: A customer that has a 15 kilowatt–hour (kWh) battery can commit 5 kW for 2 hours for a total of 10 kWh drained from the battery. The incentives they would receive are:
- A one–time cash incentive of $2,000 ($400 * 5 kW)
- The average rate for the monthly export bill credit would be about $52. Please note that this is an approximate calculation as the credit fluctuates with the customer’s billing rate and island where the customer is located.
Battery Export Details
- Devices must have a minimum committed capacity of at least 1 kW to be eligible for BYOD Plus.
- The battery will dispatch energy during a customer selected 2-hour window, everyday throughout the program participation duration.
- Customer will serve the house need first before exporting any excess energy during the two hours.
Advanced Meters
- All participants in the Bring Your Own Device Plus program must be using advanced meters. Advanced meters are modern electric meters that enable two-way data sharing between your home or business and Hawaiian Electric through a secure wireless communications network. Click here for more information on advanced meters.
Agreement
- A customer must participate in their agreement for 5 years. If a customer ends their contract early, they will need to payback the upfront incentive at a prorated amount.
- The BYOD Plus program is approved for 5 years.
- Currently only Battery Energy Storage Systems that are paired with renewable energy generation are eligible for this program.
Apply Online and Download Forms
You may access the Customer Interconnection Tool to apply online. Please see our How To Guide (PDF), How To Make An Amendment Guide (PDF), Training Video, and Frequently Asked Questions for more information. Please note that the Customer Interconnection Tool is being updated to reflect the BYOD Plus program. In the meantime, you may select BYOD to apply for the BYOD Plus program.
For BYOD Plus participation, the following are required to be submitted as part of the CIT process:
- 3 or 7 days of operational data
- See Schedule Dispatch Handbook (PDF) for instructions on delivery of verification data, and use the 7 day SDP Verification Log (Excel) to submit data
- Signed W9 Form
- If the account holder is the system owner then the account holder must sign the W9 form. If a leasing company is the system owner then an authorized signatory for the leasing company must sign the W9 form.
- Electronic signatures encouraged using DocuSign.
- To receive a W9 DocuSign form, please request one at connect@hawaiianelectric.com. W9 forms also can be printed out, signed and mailed to: Hawaiian Electric, P. O. Box 2750, Honolulu, HI 96840, Attn: AL18-SG
- Low-Moderate Income (LMI) Self-Certification Form
- Customer must submit and receive confirmation of LMI status BEFORE applying via CIT.
- To see if you qualify as LMI please see the State’s 2024-25 HUD Income Guidelines
- The Public Utilities Commission has defined LMI for BYOD Plus as any customer who has a gross annual household income, which includes income from all persons occupying the customer’s home, less than 140% of the area median income.
- Name and digital signature on the form must belong to the account holder of the electric account.
- Send completed and digitally signed form to affordability@hawaiianelectric.com.
- If confirmed LMI status, such status will be valid for one year from issuance of confirmation.
