Moving backward: Ulupono urges PUC to align with PBR in the future

Apr 08, 2025

The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission (PUC) recently issued a ruling that returns the state to an outdated rate-setting process for electricity. This could drive up residents’ electric bills and slow the state’s transition to clean energy while reducing utility accountability.

“We are disappointed in the PUC’s decision,” said Michael Colón, Ulupono Initiative’s director of energy. “Rather than adopting an innovative, streamlined review that could have addressed financial concerns without unnecessary regulatory burden, this decision returns Hawaiian Electric customers to an outdated, costly, time-consuming, and potentially counterproductive process.”

The return to a traditional rate case model, which rewards spending over results, would leave customers footing the bill. It also ignores Hawai‘i’s Performance-Based Regulation law, which was created to align utility profits to performance and efficacy.

Read more about Ulupono’s position on the PUC’s order here.