Hawaii PUC Opens Docket for Virtual Power Plant Program to Integrate Distributed Energy Resources
Summary
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has opened Docket No. 2026-0084 to design and implement a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) grid-services program across Hawaiian Electric's service territories. The proceeding aims to improve grid reliability and integrate customer-sited energy resources such as rooftop solar and battery storage, which are highly adopted in Hawaii but not currently optimized for grid support or fossil fuel reduction. The commission provided initial guidance including a remote-dispatch model, performance-based compensation, and expanded access provisions for low- and moderate-income households. Individuals and organizations may file a motion to intervene or participate within 20 days from the order date.
“The commission found that while Hawaiʻi has one of the highest levels of distributed energy resource adoption in the nation, many of these resources are not optimized to support grid reliability or reduce reliance on fossil fuels.”
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What changed
The Public Utilities Commission has initiated a new proceeding (Docket No. 2026-0084) to establish a Virtual Power Plant program that will coordinate distributed energy resources to support grid operations. The commission found that despite high adoption rates of rooftop solar and battery storage, many customer-sited resources are not optimized for grid reliability or fossil fuel reduction. Initial program design guidance includes a remote-dispatch model, performance-based compensation, and expanded access for low- and moderate-income customers.
Energy companies, distributed energy resource providers, and Hawaiian Electric customers with solar or battery storage systems should consider participating in this proceeding to shape program design parameters, compensation structures, and access requirements. The 20-day intervention deadline creates an immediate window for formal participation in rulemaking that will establish how distributed resources interact with utility grid operations.
What to do next
- File a motion to intervene or participate within 20 days from the date of the order
Archived snapshot
Apr 24, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Home » Latest Department News, Newsroom » PRESS RELEASE: Public Utilities Commission Opens Docket on Virtual Power Plant Program and Invites Participation
PRESS RELEASE: Public Utilities Commission Opens Docket on Virtual Power Plant Program and Invites Participation
Posted on Apr 22, 2026 in Latest Department News, Newsroom STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
KA ʻOIHANA PILI KĀLEPA
NADINE Y. ANDO
DIRECTOR
KA LUNA HOʻOKELE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
JON S. ITOMURA
CHAIR
PUC OPENS DOCKET ON VIRTUAL POWER PLANT PROGRAM AND INVITES PARTICIPATION
Seeks to Improve Grid Services and Better Integrate Customer Energy Resources
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2026
HONOLULU – The Public Utilities Commission has opened a new docket to design and implement a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) grid-services program that will better integrate customer-sited energy resources to support grid operations across Hawaiian Electric’s service territories. The purpose of this proceeding is to improve existing grid-services programs, encourage more customer-sited energy resources such as rooftop solar and battery storage, as well as to better integrate customer systems and electric grid operations.
The commission found that while Hawaiʻi has one of the highest levels of distributed energy resource adoption in the nation, many of these resources are not optimized to support grid reliability or reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The new proceeding will explore how these resources can be more effectively coordinated, utilized and incentivized.
As part of the order opening this VPP proceeding, the commission provided initial guidance on program design, including the use of a remote-dispatch model, performance-based compensation and expanded access to ensure participation across a range of customers, including low- and moderate-income households.
The commission also outlined a procedural schedule for the docket, including opportunities for stakeholder participation, technical conferences and the development of formal proposals. Individuals and organizations interested in filing a motion to intervene or participate may do so within 20 days from the date of the order.
The order opening the proceeding (Docket No. 2026-0084) is available here.
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