What's Being Discussed
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is holding a public hearing to take testimony from Maui residents on a proposal by the Hawaiian Electric Companies to raise electricity rates. The companies — Hawaiian Electric (HECO), Hawaii Electric Light (HELCO), and Maui Electric (MECO) — filed this request in July 2026.

The companies are asking to increase total annual revenues by approximately $170 million (5.3%) across all islands.
For Maui specifically, MECO is requesting a 6.4% increase, or about $29.3 million in additional annual revenue.
The increase would happen in two phases: the first taking effect January 1, 2027, and the second on January 1, 2028.
After both phases, a typical Maui residential customer could see their monthly bill rise by approximately $14.
The companies say the increase is driven mainly by inflation adjustments, changes to depreciation for certain power equipment, and higher insurance costs.

Decisions Expected
No final vote will be taken at this hearing. This is a public input session — residents can ask questions and give spoken testimony. The PUC will consider all public comments before making a formal decision on whether to approve, modify, or deny the rate increase.
Written comments can also be submitted online, by mail, or by email to puc.comments@hawaii.gov, referencing Docket No. 2026-0162.

Who Should Pay Attention

Maui, Molokai, and Lanai electric customers who would see higher monthly bills
Residents who want to speak directly to regulators about electricity costs
Anyone unable to attend in person — a virtual hearing option is available on October 2, 2026