Hawaii | Interconnection Grade

Recommendations

  • Revise the Initial Review penetration screen to allow for at least 100% of minimum load rather than 15% of peak load

  • Adopt more efficient timelines for simplified review and the study process within the rules

  • Incorporate an inadvertent export screen as part of Initial Review

  • Specify the details that must be provided to interconnection applicants within screening and study results

Note: Freeing the Grid interconnection grades are based solely on the provisions included or referenced within statewide interconnection procedures and do not take into account utility practices or requirements adopted outside of state procedures.

Interconnection policies specify the processes, timelines, and costs associated with connecting distributed energy resources—like solar and energy storage systems—safely and reliably to the grid.

This state’s interconnection grade is based on the following criteria:

Rule Applicability

Facility types and system sizes eligible to interconnect

Updated Standards & Export Provisions

Incorporation of IEEE 1547-2018 and export provisions

Streamlined Review

Use of simplified and expedited screening processes

Initial Review Screens

Technical screens used as part of expedited review

Modifications

Facility and distribution system modifications

Supplemental Review Screens

Technical screens used in supplemental review

Timelines & Efficiency

Timelines specified for review and other processes

Data Sharing & Reporting

Provision of queue, timeline, cost, and site-specific data

Interconnection Costs & Requirements

Fees and other requirements for interconnection

Dispute Resolution

Interconnection-specific processes for resolving disputes

Hawaii Highlight: How Interconnection Regulations Intersect with Implementation

Hawaii is a good example of a state with updated interconnection practices that have not been reflected in the state’s interconnection tariffs (i.e., Commission-approved utility documents that specify the interconnection requirements and process). Based just on Hawaii’s interconnection rules in its statewide  tariff, the state received a “C” grade, which means that it has adopted some best practices, but should plan to update its rules to streamline and improve the interconnection process. However, utility practices, in some cases, differ from what is included in Hawaii’s statewide rules. For example, utility Hawaiian Electric Company utilizes hosting capacity analysis as part of the penetration screen in its Initial Technical Review rather than the 15 percent of peak load screen that is in the tariff.1 If this change in technical screening method had been incorporated into the rules, HI would have received a higher grade. These types of discrepancies between the written provisions in statewide interconnection rules and actual implementation can lead to a lack of clarity and transparency for interconnection applicants, particularly in states with more than one regulated utility, and underscore the importance of having up-to-date rules that reflect current practices and requirements for all utilities.

Noteworthy Best Practices

This section recognizes noteworthy interconnection practices, from among the evaluation criteria. Badges are awarded to the states that meet these noteworthy criteria.

ENERGY STORAGE

Awarded to states that have included energy storage as an eligible technology in their interconnection rules, incorporated the concept of export capacity, and identified acceptable export control methods.

TRANSPARENCY

Awarded to states that require pre-application reports, detailed screening and study results, itemized upgrade cost estimates, and at least monthly public queue reporting that allows for the tracking of the interconnection process steps.

IEEE 1547-2018

Awarded to states that have incorporated the IEEE 1547-2018 Standard and identified or referenced performance categories as well as voltage and frequency settings.

Footnotes

  1. Based on an email exchange between Steven Rymsha (Director of Grid Solutions at Sunrun) and Kaiulani Shinsato (Director of Customer Energy Resources Programs at Hawaiian Electric Company) on June 2, 2023.
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