Hawaii does not fit the October 1 question. Hawaiian Electric publishes a new effective rate summary every month, and the rate moves with fuel costs. The larger issue for 2027 is a pending general rate case.
This article covers Hawaiian Electric’s five island systems. It does not cover Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.
Quick Summary: May 2026 Residential Rates
| Island | Effective rate | 500 kWh bill |
|---|---|---|
| Oahu | 47.75¢/kWh | $241.77 |
| Hawaii Island | 43.14¢/kWh | $218.27 |
| Maui | 46.75¢/kWh | $237.02 |
| Lanai | 64.11¢/kWh | $323.75 |
| Molokai | 53.23¢/kWh | $269.65 |
Source: Hawaiian Electric’s effective rate summary for May 2026. The bill includes the customer charge, energy charges, a green infrastructure fee and surcharges.
How to Read These Numbers
- They are all-in rates. Divide the 500 kWh bill by 500 and you get slightly more than the listed rate, because the bill includes the customer charge.
- They change monthly. The energy cost recovery charge follows fuel prices.
- For scale: the U.S. average residential price is projected at 18.2¢ per kWh for 2026, as covered in our EIA forecast article. Oahu’s May rate was about 2.6 times that.
Our math: 47.75 ÷ 18.2 = 2.6.
The Pending Rate Case
Honolulu Civil Beat reported in 2025 that:
- The Public Utilities Commission opened a rate case in late February 2025.
- Hawaiian Electric cited wildfire risk investments, higher insurance premiums and equipment costs, with base rates unchanged for more than five years.
- New rates could take effect before January 1, 2027. The company had not said how much.
- Separately, a fee approved by the Legislature to finance a $500 million infrastructure loan was estimated at about $4 a month for an average Oahu home.
Since 2020 Hawaii has used performance-based regulation, which limits increases between rate cases to an inflation-based formula. Energy advocates told Civil Beat that a full rate case weakens that protection.
What This Means for Homeowners With Solar
Rates this high make self-consumption very valuable. Each kWh you use from your own panels avoids about 43¢ to 64¢, depending on the island.
Hawaii closed traditional net metering to new customers years ago and now uses programs that pay less for exports, so batteries are common. We did not verify current program terms or export rates. Check them before you size a system. Our solar payback guide shows how the retail rate and the export credit change the math.
What to Check on Your Bill
- The energy cost recovery line, which moves monthly.
- The customer charge and minimum bill.
- The green infrastructure fee.
For help sorting the lines on your bill, see our guide to reading your electric bill.
Limitations
We used the May 2026 rate summary and did not find October’s. The rate case information is from a 2025 news report, and we did not confirm its current status or proposed amount. The description of Hawaii’s solar programs is general background we did not re-verify.
Sources
- Hawaiian Electric, Effective Rate Summaries, May 2026
- Honolulu Civil Beat, “Hawaii Residents Could Face Electric Rate Hike In 2026,” May 2025
Frequently asked questions
Did Hawaii electric rates change on October 1, 2026?
Hawaiian Electric's effective rates change monthly, so October's rate differs from September's. We did not find the October 2026 figure. In May 2026 the Oahu residential rate was 47.75 cents per kWh.
Why are Hawaii's electric rates so high?
The islands are separate grids that have relied heavily on imported fuel. Fuel costs pass through to customers every month.
Is Hawaiian Electric raising base rates?
It has a rate case before the Public Utilities Commission. Honolulu Civil Beat reported it as the first major request in more than five years, with possible implementation before January 1, 2027. The amount had not been disclosed.
