Hawaii Public Utilities Commission

Wildfire liability and grid safety reform: PUC ongoing investigation into HECO and MECO infrastructure practices following the 2023 Lahaina fire; proceedings examining mandatory undergrounding of high-risk lines, enhanced vegetation management standards, and whether wildfire-related costs are recoverable in rates given potential negligence findings.

Hawaiian Electric Industries acquisition and ownership restructuring: Following financial distress tied to wildfire litigation, PUC is evaluating potential change-of-control applications and has engaged in proceedings to assess whether the current ownership structure adequately protects ratepayer interests and utility financial viability.

100% Renewable Portfolio Standard compliance pathway: All Hawaiian Electric subsidiaries are under active PUC review for updated Integrated Grid Plans and renewable procurement schedules required to meet the state's 2045 100% RPS mandate; interconnection queue reform and DER aggregation rules are central contested issues.

Distributed energy resource (DER) compensation and smart export tariff design: PUC docket examining successor tariff structures for rooftop solar customers following the transition away from net energy metering; contested proceedings on export compensation rates, grid services valuation, and low-income solar access programs.

Resilience and standalone microgrid development: Active PUC proceedings on community resilience hubs and microgrid tariff frameworks, accelerated post-Maui wildfires; stakeholder proceedings addressing cost allocation, utility vs. third-party ownership, and priority access for critical facilities and vulnerable communities.