How HECO's New BYOD+ Program Makes Clean Energy More Accessible Than Ever

May 14, 2025

Hawaiian Electric is about to transform the solar landscape in Hawaii with the launch of its enhanced BYOD+ program on May 15, 2025. This significant upgrade to the existing Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program offers substantially increased incentives and improved accessibility, making solar energy more attainable for households across our islands.

At Independent Energy Hawaii, we’re excited about the changes because they address many of the barriers that have previously limited solar adoption, especially for low and moderate-income households. The new BYOD+ program represents one of the most generous solar incentive structures we’ve seen in Hawaii, with incentives quadrupling from previous levels.

What’s New in BYOD+?

The BYOD+ program builds upon the foundation of the original BYOD program while introducing several meaningful improvements:

Extended Commitment Period: The program now has a five-year term, increased from the previous three-year requirement. This longer timeframe allows Hawaiian Electric to better plan grid integration while giving participants more time to maximize their benefits.

Statewide Accessibility: Previously, enrollment was limited by island-specific caps. The new program eliminates these geographical restrictions, ensuring equal access for residents throughout Hawaii.

Equitable Capacity Allocation: The total program capacity of 50 MW (megawatt) is divided evenly, with 25 MW reserved specifically for low and moderate-income (LMI) households and 25 MW for non-LMI participants. This balanced approach helps ensure the benefits of clean energy are widely distributed across economic demographics.

Launch Timeline: Mark your calendars for May 15, 2025, when enrollment officially begins. Given the significantly enhanced incentives, we anticipate strong interest and recommend preparing early.

BYOD+ Enhanced Incentives

The financial incentives in BYOD+ have been substantially increased, making solar adoption more economically attractive than ever before:

For Standard Households:

Previous incentive: $100/kW with a $500 maximum cap
New incentive: $400/kW with no maximum limit

For LMI Households:

Previous incentive: $200/kW with a $500 maximum cap
New incentive: $800/kW with no maximum limit

To put these numbers in perspective, let’s compare a typical 6kW residential solar system:

Under the old program, a standard household would receive $500 (due to the cap)
Under BYOD+, that same household would receive $2,400—nearly five times more
A low and moderate-income (LMI) household with the same system would now receive $4,800

The program has also simplified the payment structure. Instead of monthly performance incentives spread over time, participants now receive the entire incentive upfront, providing immediate financial relief and improving the economics of solar installation.

If circumstances require you to exit the program before completing the five-year term, a reasonable pro-rated repayment structure applies. However, if you transition to another approved grid services program, this repayment requirement is waived—offering welcome flexibility.

Making Clean Energy Accessible: Special Focus on LMI Households

Hawaiian Electric has made efforts to ensure BYOD+ benefits reach households that have faced barriers to solar adoption:

Updated Eligibility Criteria: LMI qualifications have been aligned with Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA) Green Energy Money $aver (GEM$) standards. Households with income below 140% of the Area Median Income (adjusted by household size) now qualify.

Simplified Certification: The program features a streamlined self-certification process coordinated with HGIA, reducing paperwork and administrative hurdles.

Transparency Measures: Hawaiian Electric will report LMI enrollment data in its monthly Community Energy Reports (CER), ensuring accountability and allowing the public to track progress toward equitable clean energy access.

For a family of four in Honolulu, the current Area Median Income is approximately $109,000, meaning households earning below about $153,000 may qualify for the enhanced LMI incentives. (Note: Please verify current AMI figures when applying, as they are updated periodically.)

Future-Proofing Your Investment

The BYOD+ program is designed with flexibility in mind, allowing participants to adapt as grid technologies and programs evolve:

Participants can transition into future Virtual Power Plant (VPP) or remote dispatch programs without penalty
No incentive repayment is required when switching to approved programs
Upfront incentives will be adjusted to prevent “double-dipping” across programs

This forward-thinking approach means your solar investment remains valuable even as the energy landscape continues to evolve, providing peace of mind for long-term planning.

How Independent Energy Hawaii Can Guide Your BYOD+ Journey

Navigating solar incentive programs can be complex, particularly with significant changes like those in BYOD+. At Independent Energy Hawaii, we specialize in helping residents maximize their benefits while ensuring a smooth experience:

Comprehensive Eligibility Assessment: Our team can help determine whether you qualify for standard or LMI incentives and calculate your potential savings under the program.
System Optimization: We design solar systems specifically to maximize BYOD+ benefits, considering factors like system sizing, battery capacity, and export scheduling.
Application Assistance: Our experienced staff will guide you through the enrollment process, ensuring all documentation is complete and submitted correctly.
LMI Qualification Support: For households that may qualify for enhanced incentives, we offer specialized assistance with the qualification and self-certification process.
Long-Term Planning: We help you understand how BYOD+ fits into your broader energy goals and can advise on potential future transitions to other programs.

Preparing for May 2025: Next Steps

With the BYOD+ launch date of May 1, 2025 approaching, now is the ideal time to begin planning:

Schedule a consultation with Independent Energy Hawaii to assess your home’s solar potential and calculate your estimated BYOD+ incentives.
Verify your eligibility for standard or LMI incentives with our assistance.
Design your optimal system with our experts, considering both immediate BYOD+ benefits and long-term energy goals.
Secure your place in line for the program launch, as capacity may fill quickly given the enhanced incentives.

The new BYOD+ program represents an unprecedented opportunity to transition to clean energy while significantly reducing costs. By combining quadrupled incentives, retail-rate export compensation, and special provisions for LMI households, Hawaiian Electric has created a program that truly makes solar accessible for more Hawaii residents.