HI SB2641

Public Utilities Commission (PUC) shall establish preferential off-peak rates for energy used or consumed for agricultural activities.

Public utilities must request PUC approval for preferential off-peak rates upon receiving bona fide requests from agricultural customers with proof the energy will be used for agricultural purposes.

PUC must notify the public of rate requests, consider public comments, and approve rates only if they provide benefits to ratepayers through improved system operations or other impacts.

Each electric and gas utility must develop an incentive program by January 1, 2017 within their demand-side management programs to provide incentives to agricultural customers to acquire energy storage technology.

Eligible energy storage technologies must reduce grid demand, be commercially available, safely utilize existing transmission and distribution systems, and improve air quality by reducing air pollutants.