Getting to Know Us: Independent Energy Hawaii

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Welcome to Independent Energy Hawaii! We are a leading solar energy company dedicated to making solar power simple and accessible for everyone. Our expertise lies in designing and installing high-quality solar energy systems, ensuring our customers benefit from sustainable and reliable energy solutions. With a strong commitment to innovation and customer service, we pride ourselves on being a trusted partner in Hawaii’s journey towards renewable energy.

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Our History

Independent Energy Hawaii was founded by James Rudolph, a seasoned master electrician who began his solar career in 2008. With a vision of creating a family-owned business, James partnered with his son, Desta Rudolph, combining decades of industry experience with modern technology and tools. Desta, an accomplished solar professional and entrepreneur, has been instrumental in the company’s growth, establishing Independent Energy Systems, LLC at the age of 22. Together, they have built a reputation for excellence in solar installations and customer service, making Independent Energy a respected name in the industry.

Our Mission Statement

“To Make Solar Simple and Accessible for Everyone.”

Our Vision

At Independent Energy Hawaii, we aspire to lead the way in the solar industry by providing innovative and sustainable energy solutions. Our vision is to contribute significantly to Hawaii’s goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2045. We aim to educate and empower our customers, ensuring they have a seamless and informed experience with solar energy.

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Our Commitment to Quality Services and Products

We offer a range of products and services designed to meet the unique needs of our customers. Our custom solar energy and battery storage systems are tailored to ensure optimal performance and energy efficiency. What sets us apart is our dedication to quality, transparency, and customer education. From the initial consultation to the final installation, we work closely with our customers to ensure they understand their system and receive the best possible service. 

We are proud to have been recognized as one of the Pacific Business News’ Best Places to Work in both 2022 and 2023. This recognition underscores our commitment to fostering a supportive and dynamic workplace environment.

Our Company Culture

At Independent Energy Hawaii, we foster a supportive and dynamic workplace environment. We believe in the importance of work-life balance and offer initiatives to support our employees’ professional and personal growth. We sponsor continuing education through electrical trade schools and actively participate in community events and beach cleanups. Our team enjoys a collaborative atmosphere where everyone is encouraged to contribute and thrive.

We do not employ traditional door-to-door sales tactics. Instead, we focus on providing transparent, high-quality services without the pressure of aggressive sales strategies. If we see an opportunity to engage with a customer in person, we do so thoughtfully, but we do not set quotas for door-to-door outreach.

Our Achievements and Milestones

Since our inception, Independent Energy has achieved significant milestones. We are proud members of the Hawaii Solar Energy Association (HSEA), actively contributing to policy advocacy and lobbying efforts. Our commitment to community service is evident in our $50k donation to the Ohana Hope Village on Maui, providing solar equipment and clean power for families affected by wildfires. We have also pledged to donate 1% of our profits to provide sustainable energy to those in need.

We began the company with a belief in setting higher standards for installation quality in the solar industry. Our focus on transparency and quality reflects this commitment.

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Our Commitment to You

We value our customers and strive to provide exceptional service and support. Our transparent and educational approach ensures that every customer is well-informed and confident in their decision to go solar. Testimonials from satisfied customers highlight our dedication to quality and customer satisfaction. One such testimonial reads, “Independent Energy made the process so easy and stress-free. Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and always available to answer our questions.”

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Status: The program is capped at 50 megawatts (MW), as of right now we are at 6.2 MW.

  • Currently customers who are accepted into the program will receive $850 per kilowatt (kW).
  • After the first 15 MW is filled, the next 15 MW of committed capacity will receive $750 per kW.
  • After the next 15 MW is used the last 20 MW of committed capacity will receive $500 per kW.

Customers that are not currently enrolled in the company’s Net Energy Metering (NEM) Program will receive a fixed monthly bill credit for energy exported to the grid for three years. The credit is an amount equivalent to the respective retail rate for electricity exported during the two-hour period. After these three years are completed any underlying interconnection tariff export rates, if any, will apply.

Customers who wish to participate with an existing solar system and are presently enrolled in a customer energy program (such as Net Energy Metering, and Grid Supply or others) will continue to receive full benefits from these programs. Up to 5 kW of new panels may be added under existing programs. There is no limit on the size of an individual customer’s battery.

If you would like to add more than 5 kW of additional capacity of PV, it is possible as long as you still adhere to a 2:1 PV to battery output ratio. These apply to any interconnection tariff customers!

5/5

“We wholeheartedly recommend Independent Energy Hawaii for all your solar photovoltaic system needs. From our initial conversations with Desta to the final inspection with James, every interaction was extraordinarily positive. The team’s knowledge, honesty, and professionalism was exceptional. The whole process was done efficiently and reliably and we couldn’t be more appreciative. Every member of the team was professional, competent, and respectful in their dealings with us.”

– Sandy L

5/5

“Easily the most professional crew I ever had the pleasure of doing business with, and I never felt alone or in the dark thanks to Desta. He helped me with all my questions and I loved the fact that he was just a phone call away. Dedication to something like that is just hard to find nowadays. This company was a breath of fresh air for me and I wish I could do such an awesome crew justice with such a simple review. 10/10″

– Hank W

5/5

“Desta, Adam, Mike, Garrison and the rest of the Independent Energy Team are amazing. They were knowledgeable, responsive and helpful throughout our whole solar process. When issues came up (as they always do with projects), they went the extra mile to make sure everything worked properly.
Our panels and battery were installed on time as promised and are working great – just got our first ever $26 HECO bill!
This company cares about helping people and doing quality work, which is very rare these days. Hands down the best experience I’ve had with a company for home improvement/renovations. Highly recommend!”

– Matcha S.