Shift and Save
Shift and Save
We have postponed the start of the new Shift and Save pilot program by order of the Public Utilities Commission. For Oahu and Hawaii Island customers who were previously identified for the pilot program, the time-of-use rates and pilot will begin on Feb. 1, 2024. The PUC also temporarily suspended the commencement of the program on Maui. Read the news release.
Time-of-Use (TOU) rates enable you to save money if you shift your energy use away from the high-demand evening and overnight hours that are at a higher kWh rate. The more you shift your energy usage away from those hours, the more money you could save.
The new pilot program for TOU rates, called Shift and Save, will start in Feb. 2024 with randomly selected customers who have had advanced meters for at least six months. This 1-year pilot program will involve only about 4% of our customers on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island. Rates for all other customers remain unchanged.
The pilot will collect data and customer feedback. This feedback will be crucial for the PUC to determine how and whether this program will ultimately apply to all customers in the future. Shift and Save may be introduced to all customers in 2025, but how the program works will be determined by the results of the pilot.
Shift and Save pilot program basics
- This pilot program was developed collaboratively by Hawaiian Electric, the state Consumer Advocate, and representatives from the distributed energy resources industry, and reviewed and authorized for implementation by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
- Starting the week of July 31, 2023, notifications were sent out to about 15,000 residential and 1,700 business customers on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island that they have been selected at random to participate in a time-of-use pilot program.
- The 1-year pilot program starts Feb. 1, 2024.
- Participants are randomly selected residential and commercial customers who have had advanced meters installed by December 2022.
- Hawaiian Electric makes/loses no money on any customer bill that increases or decreases as a result of Shift and Save.
- Shift and Save is expected to be introduced to all customers in 2025, but the ultimate determination will be made by the PUC, based on results of the pilot.
- Shift and Save rates will apply 7 days a week. A bill protection credit will be applied for the first six months.
- Browse our Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
Am I in the pilot program?
If you have been randomly selected for the Shift and Save pilot program, you will receive a notification via postal mail and/or email. If you do not receive anything from us regarding this program, then you have not been selected to participate.
If you have received a notification that you have been selected for the pilot program, here are some additional resources for what to expect.
Try our savings tool to explore how changing your usage habits can impact your electric bill with our new Shift and Save pilot program.
Participation
How do I decline participation?
Customers selected for the pilot can decline to participate at any time, including after the pilot has started.
Can I choose to participate?
If you have not been selected to participate in the pilot program, you can still choose to participate.
How Shift and Save rates work
The daytime rate is the lowest to encourage customers to take advantage of abundant solar power during the middle of the day. Conversely, the evening peak rate is the highest. Learn more about how you can save money by shifting usage.
Rate periods are:
- Daytime: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Evening peak: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Overnight: 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.
Why implement Shift and Save?
The purpose of the program is to encourage customers to shift some of their electricity use from the evening peak and overnight to daytime when solar energy is abundant and less expensive. If successful, Hawaii will further reduce dependence on fossil fuels, cut greenhouse gas emissions, make its electric grids more reliable and resilient and, over time, drive down costs.
Time-of-Use background
We offered Time-of-use rates to customers in the past. These customers will not be included the Shift and Save pilot program. Our most recent Residential Interim Time-of-Use rate schedule (TOU-RI) is closed to new enrollments effective October 31, 2022.
