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Panel backs measures to speed interconnection and service‑upgrade work; utilities urge collaboration on process changes
Summary
HB243, aimed at streamlining interconnection and service upgrades for distributed energy resources, advanced with amendments clarifying scope and payment responsibilities; Hawaiian Electric urged continued collaboration with industry rather than prescriptive statute changes.
The House Committee on Housing advanced HB243 after testimony from utilities, industry groups and consumer advocates. The bill targets faster interconnection for distributed energy resources (DER) and includes provisions related to service upgrades and meter/panel work.
Hawaiian Electric opposed parts of the bill in written and oral testimony, urging collaboration with the solar industry rather than prescriptive statutory fixes. A Hawaiian Electric representative noted the utility already operates under an interconnection performance incentive mechanism and called for continued dialogue on service‑upgrade process improvements. Industry groups including the Hawaii Solar Energy Association, Sunrun and others testified in support, saying new grid‑interactive equipment (UL 1741 changes) is creating friction that warrants clearer statutory guidance.
The committee adopted multiple clarifying amendments in HD2: expand grid interconnection scope to explicitly include EV charging, limit applicability to investor‑owned utilities, require DER owners to pay for service upgrades where necessary, and direct utilities to establish certification or approval processes for electricians to perform meter and main panel work covered by the bill.
Decision: The committee voted to pass HB243 with those amendments. Hawaiian Electric reiterated a preference for continued collaboration with industry to refine processes rather than prescriptive statutory steps.
What to watch: Implementation details, how utilities administer certification for electricians, and whether the amended language resolves interconnection bottlenecks without unintended cost shifts to customers.
