The Home Battery ReportIndependent · No installer money
HI state report

Is a home battery worth it in Hawaii?

Hawaii is the single strongest battery-economics state in 2026: the nation's highest rates (about 47 cents/kWh), no retail net metering so self-consumption is king, and a $400/kW BYOD Plus incentive. A solar-plus-storage system is close to mandatory for meaningful solar value here.

✓ Verified 2026-07-01

Hawaii at a glance

Average residential rate
47 cents per kWh
Net metering
Retail net metering closed to new customers years ago. New solar-plus-storage customers use Smart Renewable Energy (Smart Export / Smart Non-Export) tariffs, with export credits below retail. Confirm the current tariff with Hawaiian Electric.
State battery incentive
Hawaiian Electric Bring Your Own Device Plus (BYOD Plus): $400 per kW committed upfront (no cap), plus a Low-to-Moderate-Income adder of an additional $400 per kW, plus monthly export credits. Requires a new battery and a 5-year commitment. Replaced the closed Battery Bonus program.
Time-of-use plans
Common and relevant here

What drives battery value here

Island grids with no mainland interconnection; high fuel-import dependence and wildfire/storm risk (e.g., Maui). Resilience value is high. Backup is meaningful on isolated island grids, but in Hawaii the overwhelming driver is economics: the highest residential rates in the US make self-consumption and export credits extremely valuable.

The federal picture in 2026

The federal residential purchase credit (Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025, so a 2026 cash buyer gets nothing federal. The only surviving federal pathway is Section 48E, which a company claims on a lease or PPA. State and utility programs, where they exist, now do the heavy lifting.

Sources

Rates and incentive amounts change; always confirm current terms with your utility or program administrator.

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