I have been reading the recent complaints about Maui Electric Co. and its ever-increasing rates, and I have to agree - so much so that I began the process of having solar photovoltaic installed in my home.
After receiving a competitive bid from a local contractor, I applied for my PV permit with MECO. I have been denied by MECO due to oversaturation of PV in my district. MECO did say I could try a $3,000 out-of-pocket study that might allow me to get the go-ahead, but no guarantees.
Looks like MECO could care less about Hawaii's Clean Energy Initiative. The HCEI is a joint collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy and the state established through a memorandum of understanding signed in January 2008. The goal of the HCEI is to achieve 70 percent of the state's primary energy from clean energy sources by 2030.
Oddly, no such oversaturation roadblocks exist on Oahu - I could go ahead with installation today. Not on Maui.
Darrin Rowan
Wailuku
