The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) denied a request by the Hawaiian Electric Co. to expand its smart grid deployment on Oahu. HECO had asked for 18 more months to expand its AMI testing which would have charged consumers $1.4 million to install 5,000 more meters in Oahu in addition to the 9,400 meters that were deployed already in its pilot. With this ruling, the PUC closed the smart grid docket on HECO’s initial 2008 request. That means the utility would need to start over with state regulators if it tries again.
"Our office was concerned that the investment would be made but ratepayers wouldn't see the benefits," said Dean Nishina, executive director for the state Division of Consumer Advocacy, as reported by news agency AP. The utility should create a comprehensive plan for upgrading the electric grid before it makes another attempt to use ratepayer money to put advanced electric meters in homes and businesses, according to the PUC's ruling.