Electricity Rate in Hawaii (2026): 42.97c/kWh Average
Hawaii Electricity Rate: What You Need to Know
Hawaii electricity averages 42.97 cents per kWh for residential customers as of April 2026, according to the EIA Electric Power Monthly. This is 25.32c above the US average of 17.65c/kWh. The average monthly bill for Hawaii households is $219 based on typical usage of 510 kWh.
Hawaii's 42.97c/kWh rate is the highest in the US by a wide margin - 2.4 times the national average. Every Hawaiian island operates as a completely isolated grid with no interconnection to any other island or to the mainland. HECO (Hawaiian Electric) subsidiaries on each island (Hawaiian Electric on Oahu, Maui Electric on Maui, Lanai Customer Service on Lanai) generate most of their electricity from imported petroleum - oil tankers making a 2,500-mile Pacific crossing add $0.15-$0.25/kWh in logistics costs to every kilowatt generated. Hawaii's 2026 rate case approved additional cost recovery for grid modernization, including the transition to renewable generation (HECO targets 100% renewable by 2045). Solar is the most cost-effective energy move for Hawaii homeowners: at 42.97c/kWh, a $25,000 solar system pays back in 6 years even without the federal ITC (which expired December 2025).
Generation mix: Petroleum 80%, solar 15%, wind 5%. The fuel mix is a primary driver of electricity rates - states with abundant hydro or nuclear tend to have lower rates, while states dependent on imported petroleum (Hawaii) or natural gas pay more.
Year-over-year change: Hawaii rates rose 3.6% year-over-year as of April 2026. This compares to the US average increase of 5.4% over the same period.
Regulated: You Cannot Switch Electricity Suppliers
HECO (Hawaiian Electric) operates as the regulated utility in Hawaii. Retail electricity choice is not available for residential customers. Options for reducing your bill include: time-of-use rate optimization, energy efficiency upgrades, and rooftop solar.
Your Hawaii Electricity Bill Components
State pre-selected in our full bill calculator with TOU and commercial modes.
Open Bill Calculator ->