Oahu homes to see small break in bills
Hawaiian Electric Co. says Oahu homeowners will be getting a slight break on their bills this month.
The typical home, which uses about 600 kilowatt hours, will see their bill drop about 7.4 percent to $182.01 from the $196.52 they were billed in October.
HECO says more cuts could be in order given oil's decline. Most of the electrical generators in Hawaii run on oil.
That should provide some relief for homeowners who have seen their bills rise this year to a peak of 32.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in September. It now stands at 28.9 cents.
Hawaii residents have the highest average statewide electricity rates in the nation, paying almost three times the U.S. average.
Related News
Duke Energy seeks changes in how solar owners are paid for electricity
CHARLOTTE - Duke Energy has proposed new rules for how owners of rooftop solar panels are paid for electricity they send to the electric grid. It could mean more complexity and lower payments, but the utility says rates would be fairer.
State legislators have called for changes in the payment rules — known as "net metering."
Right now, solar panel owners who produce more electricity than they need get credits on their bills, equal to whatever they pay for electricity. Under the proposed changes, the credit would be lower and would vary according to electricity demand, said Duke spokesperson Randy Wheeless.
"So in…
