Hawaiian Electric ready to handle increase in rooftop solar applications as customers rush to claim expiring tax credit Federal incentives ending as of Dec. 31, 2025

Hawaiian Electric ready to handle increase in rooftop solar
applications as customers rush to claim expiring tax credit
Federal incentives ending as of Dec. 31, 2025
HONOLULU, Sept. 8, 2025 – Hawaiian Electric is focused on approving applications for
residential rooftop solar and battery storage systems as quickly as possible as customers rush
to finish installations before the early expiration of the Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit.
Hawaiian Electric has begun seeing an increase in applications for customer-sited solar and
battery systems now that the federal government has moved up the deadline for claiming the
30% tax credit to Dec. 31, 2025. Previously homeowners had until the end of 2032 to claim the
full tax credit for qualifying clean energy technologies.
Hawaiian Electric received 1,151 applications to install residential rooftop solar and battery
storage systems in July, up sharply from 683 in June. Applications in July were the highest for
any month since March 2024. Hawaiian Electric expects applications to continue at robust
levels for the remainder of 2025 and can shift additional staff to process applications if needed.
“We are committed to processing applications as quickly as possible to help customers who
want to install and energize their systems by the end of the year,” said Kaiulani Shinsato,
Hawaiian Electric Customer Energy Resources co-director. “Customer-sited solar and battery
storage is a priority for Hawaiian Electric because these systems are key to reaching Hawai‘i’s
decarbonization and clean energy goals.”
Hawaiian Electric recently achieved a major clean energy milestone as the amount of rooftop
solar and battery storage surpassed 1 gigawatt of installed capacity across the five islands the
company serves. As a result of the high solar penetration, an estimated 44% of single-family
homes served by Hawaiian Electric have rooftop solar.
“Hawai‘i’s leadership in rooftop solar and storage shows how local action can deliver affordable
clean energy and resilience,” said Rocky Mould, executive director of the Hawai‘i Solar Energy
Association. “We appreciate Hawaiian Electric’s quick response in listening to the solar industry
and accommodating this surge in demand. As federal support fades, reducing interconnection
and permitting costs can ensure these resources keep paying off for customers, the grid, and
our islands as a whole.”
Hawaiian Electric customers seeking to install a grid-connected solar or battery storage system
can apply through the company’s Smart Renewable Energy program. More information is
available at hawaiianelectric.com/smartprograms.