Hawaiian Electric rebasing proposal could raise monthly electricity bills

Sep 21, 2026

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.

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