Hawaiian Electric rebasing proposal could raise monthly electricity bills
Hawaiian Electric customers could see a double-digit jump in their monthly bills if state regulators approve the utility's rate rebasing proposal — bad news for people already paying some of the highest electricity rates in the country.
- Hawaiian Electric wants to reset its base rates for the first time since 2021, blaming inflation, insurance premiums, and equipment costs it says were out of its control.
- The average household would pay an extra $11 to $15 a month, with rates then locked in until 2032.
- The Public Utilities Commission is holding public hearings across the state, in person and online, before deciding.
- East Honolulu residents are also pushing back on frequent blackouts, saying outages have become routine in areas like Hawaii Kai and Waimanalo.
- The utility says trees and vegetation are behind many of the outages and it is still working to fix them.
Outlook: Regulators will weigh public feedback from the hearings before ruling, so higher bills are likely but not yet locked in.