HB 588 Summary

• Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish and adopt reliability standards and interconnection requirements for all electric utilities and users of the Hawaii electric system.

• Mandates the Commission distinguish between interconnection facilities (costs borne by interconnection customer) and utility network upgrades (costs borne by utility transmission provider).

• Prohibits interconnection customers from bearing costs of changes to reliability standards or interconnection requirements made after their power purchase agreement receives Commission approval.

• Establishes specific timelines and reporting requirements for electric utilities to complete interconnection design, reach agreements with renewable energy developers, and file Commission requests, with penalties including forfeiture of performance incentive funds for non-compliance.

• Applies requirements to utility-scale renewable energy projects of five megawatts or larger and to community-based renewable energy projects designated by the Commission as responsible for interconnection costs.