Hawaiian Electric (HECO) Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) & Battery Bonus VPP Guide
Hawaiian Electric’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) successor to the Oahu/Maui Battery Bonus program pays homeowners an upfront cash incentive plus monthly capacity credits for exporting scheduled battery kW between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM every evening.
1. Annual & 5-Year VPP Earnings Breakdown by Battery Size
Open Interactive VPP Calculator →Compensation Formula: Upfront cash per committed kW + monthly capacity bill credit for 2-hour evening scheduled dispatch
| Home Battery Configuration | Estimated Annual VPP Payout | 5-Year Cumulative Value |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0 kW Committed Export (13.5–14.3 kWh LFP Battery) | Up to $4,250 Upfront + $300/yr Credit | $5,750 + Peak kWh Credits |
| 10.0 kW Committed Export (27–28.6 kWh Dual LFP Bank) | Up to $8,500 Upfront + $600/yr Credit | $11,500 + Peak kWh Credits |
2. VPP Dispatch Rules, Backup Reserves & Aggregator Fine Print
- 1Unlike mainland VPPs that only call 20 emergency events a summer, HECO’s grid relies on daily scheduled evening discharges (2 hours every evening between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM) to replace retiring oil-fired power plants.
- 2Because your battery cycles ~60%–75% every single day in Hawaii, Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP / LiFePO4) chemistry rated for 6,000–8,000 cycles is essential.
EG4 18kPV + 2x 14.3kWh PowerPro WallMount (8,000-Cycle LFP for Daily HECO Cycling)
HECO Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) & Smart DER Grid Services FAQ
Can existing HECO NEM customers add a battery under BYOD without losing their old NEM status?
HECO offers specific transition pathways and non-export/scheduled-export add-ons; always verify whether adding export capacity transitions your account to Smart DER or preserves legacy credits.
Does the 35% Hawaii State Tax Credit apply to the battery cost before or after the HECO rebate?
Consult your Hawaii CPA on Hawaii Form N-342; even after rebates, combining the 35% Hawaii RETITC (up to $5,000 per 5kW system) with the 30% Federal ITC makes Hawaii the fastest battery payback market in the US.