Rebate FAQs
- Who qualifies for Hawaii Energy rebates?
- Why are the rebates only available on Oahu, the Big Island and Maui County?
- Can I get more than one rebate?
- What do I need to get a rebate?
- Why do I need to include my original receipt?
- What if my appliance does not appear in the ENERGY STAR® website?
- I live in a condo and don’t receive an electric bill. Can I still get a rebate?
- If I live on Kauai, but bought a qualified appliance/equipment for a property on another island, can I apply for a rebate?
- How long does it take until I receive my rebate?
- I replaced my gas water heater with solar, how come I can’t get a rebate?
- How long will the rebate program last?
Q. Who qualifies for Hawaii Energy rebates?
A. If your name is on the electric bill from HECO, HELCO and MECO on Big Island, Lanai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu, you can qualify for Hawaii Energy rebates.
Residents and businesses on Kauai can receive solar water heating rebates from the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC). For information from KIUC, call 808-246-8284 for residential programs; 808-246-8275 for commercial programs.
Q. Why are the rebates only available on Oahu, the Big Island and Maui County?
A. Rebates are paid for by the Public Benefits Fund (PBF), which is funded by a small fee on the electric bills from HECO, HELCO and MECO. The PBF fee on your electric bill is about 1.5% of the total revenue for the HECO companies.
Q. Can I get more than one rebate?
A. Yes, households can receive one rebate per energy efficiency appliance/equipment. For example, if you buy a solar water heater and an ENERGY STAR® refrigerator and ceil fan, you can apply for rebates for each item. You must use a rebate form for each item — one for the solar water heater and one for the refrigerator. If you bought multiple items of the same qualifying make and model, you only need one rebate application form. Apply for rebates here.
Q. What do I need to get a rebate?
A. You must be a qualified electric company customer from Oahu, the Big Island or Maui County and your equipment/appliance must meet Hawaii Energy requirements.
Rebates for solar water heaters are directly deducted from your system cost by an approved contractor, so you don’t need to do anything. Apply for your state and federal tax rebates for solar water heating when you file your taxes. Please consult your tax preparer for details.
For rebates for high-efficiency water heaters and heat pumps as well as ENERGY STAR® appliances, you will need:
- A completed Hawaii Energy rebate form.
- Original receipt
- Make and model number of appliance/equipment
- Submit by deadline: Hawaii Energy must receive the completed materials
Rebates are available while funding lasts. Please refer to the application form for specific dates and requirements.
Q. Why do I need to include my original receipt?
A. Many times the photo copy of a receipt may be hard to read. Also, an original receipt ensures that the receipt is not being used multiple times. If you need your original receipt returned, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope and we will mail it back to you.
Q. What if my appliance does not appear in the ENERGY STAR® website?
A. It must appear on the website and the identification number must match exactly with the ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances. This is the only way Hawaii Energy can validate that the appliance has been accepted by ENERGY STAR.
Q. I live in a condo and don’t receive an electric bill. Can I still get a rebate?
A. Yes. We will need the name of the property and the address listed on the electric statement. For example: AOAO Shores of Kau Kau, 1616 Third Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
Q. If I live on Kauai, but bought a qualified appliance/equipment for a property on another island, can I apply for a rebate?
A. Yes, if the appliance/equipment was installed on your property on Oahu, Big Island or Maui County.
Q. How long does it take until I receive my rebate?
A. Rebates for solar water heating are applied immediately to the cost of your system by a Hawaii Energy-approved solar contractor.
For high-efficiency water heaters and heat pumps as well as ENERGY STAR® appliances, expect rebates from Hawaii Energy within 6 to 8 weeks.
Commercial and industrial rebates also take 6 to 8 weeks to be mailed to you after a completed form is submitted.
Q. I replaced my gas water heater with solar. How come I can’t get a rebate?
A. The goal of the rebate program is to reduce electric consumption. Since you were previously using gas, shifting to electric technology does not fulfill our mandate to cut electricity use.
Q. How long will the rebate program last?
A. Rebates for programs are usually available for a year. For some programs, rebates will be offered only during specified periods based on funding availability. Please check our website for rebate availability updates.
Funds may run low depending on the popularity of the program. In such cases, rebates are given on a first-come-first-served basis and Hawaii Energy will notify the public about the availability of funds through this website and other media.
