Hawaii’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved extensions for two Hawaiian Electric pilot programmes designed to support transportation electrification, granting a 12-month extension for the Charge Up eBus Pilot and a 14-month extension for the EV-J and EV-P tariff programmes.
The commission approved Hawaiian Electric’s requests with modifications to maintain regulatory oversight while supporting the state’s clean energy transition. The Charge Up eBus Pilot, which provides no-cost make-ready electrical infrastructure for electric bus charging at customer sites, will now run through 31 December 2027.
The EV tariff pilot, which offers time-of-use rates to encourage mid-day charging when renewable energy is more abundant, will continue through 30 June 2027.
PUC chair Jon Itomura said the extensions support continued progress in transportation electrification and grid efficiency while maintaining cost stability for customers.
The eBus pilot was originally approved in May 2021 with a budget of US$4.25 million to install make-ready infrastructure for up to 20 electric bus charging stations across three years. The program has faced repeated delays due to permitting challenges, material procurement issues and construction limitations.
Three pilot participants on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island are at various stages of project completion, with construction having commenced only on Maui in November 2025. The Oahu project has been awaiting permit approval for 16 months.
Hawaiian Electric requested the extension to allow time for materials procurement and construction, noting that the modified schedule will not increase costs beyond the previously approved budget.
The commission found that the extension supports the pilot’s objectives of developing make-ready infrastructure and improving understanding of customer needs for electric bus charging.
The EV tariff pilot, meanwhile, was approved in December 2021 and established two commercial charging rates that provide lower costs during the 09:00 to 17:00 period when grid costs are lower and solar energy supply is higher.
The pilot was designed to enrol up to 1,500 customers and was approved for five years, with no anticipated material impact on customer rates.
Hawaiian Electric requested an indefinite extension while it develops successor tariffs, which the company does not plan to file until the end of the second quarter of 2026.
The commission rejected the indefinite timeline, instead approving an extension through 30 June 2027 and requiring the utility to file an application for successor tariffs by 30 June 2026. The commission said the defined timeline ensures continuity for existing participants while new rates are reviewed.
EVs account for 3.8% of Hawaiian passenger vehicles
The utility is considering modifications to the tariff structure, including aligning time-of-use periods with its E-BUS-J and E-BUS-P tariffs and adjusting rates to reflect marginal price differentials between peak and off-peak periods.
The commission also provided guidance on the pilot process, requiring Hawaiian Electric to submit separate filings for individual pilot modification requests to improve transparency and support timely review. The extensions will not result in cost recovery through the pilot process or impact customer rates, according to the commission.
As of March 2026, Hawaii had 41,625 registered passenger EVs, representing 3.8% of the state’s passenger vehicle fleet. The state ranks fifth nationally in EV adoption at 11.9% of new retail vehicles sold through February, according to J.D. Power. Hawaiian Electric’s annual reporting.