Changing to Meet Customers' Needs through Energy Solutions

Once just a provider of electricity, Hawaiian Electric Company evolved to provide customers energy services to help them save money as well.

In 1995, Hawaiian Electric won the utility industry's highest honor -- the Edison Award -- for its highly successful commercial heat pump water heating program. The program is an example of how Hawaiian Electric has leveraged technology, helping customers meet their energy needs and saving them money at the same time.

For its residential customers, the company's highly successful solar water heating program, the largest in the nation, provided rebates to help customers pay for solar systems that can reduce the cost of water heating by up to 90 percent.

In 1996, U.S. Department of Defense - Hawaiian Electric Clean Energy Partnership is signed to meet the DOD's energy needs. The same year, Hawaiian Electric inaugurates free electric bus shuttle service offering rides to downtowners under a six-month pilot program by the City and County of Honolulu.

In 1998, Hawaiian Electric helps install the state's first electric vehicle "rapid charging station". The following year, Hawaiian Electric received the U.S. Department of Labor's EVE Award for diversity and for outstanding volunteerism and support.