What is the Hawaiian Electric Bring Your Own Device Plus (BYOD Plus) program?

Bring Your Own Device Plus (BYOD Plus) is a Hawaiian Electric incentive program that pays customers for adding a new battery to their rooftop solar system. Each participant selects a two-hour window every evening during which their battery discharges — serving the home first, then sending any extra energy to the grid. The goal is to add more renewable energy capacity where the grid needs it, supporting Hawaii path to 100% clean energy by 2045. BYOD Plus replaced the earlier Battery Bonus program.

What incentives can I earn — upfront and ongoing?

There is an upfront incentive of $400 per kW of committed capacity, with no maximum cap, paid once after your contract is executed. Qualifying Low-Moderate Income (LMI) customers can receive an additional $400 per kW on top of that. There is also a monthly export credit for the energy your battery sends to the grid during your dispatch window, credited at your current retail billing rate. For example, a customer committing 5 kW from a 15 kWh battery would receive a one-time incentive of $2,000, plus roughly $52 a month in export credits.

What happens during my dispatch window?

You choose a two-hour window each day, and your battery discharges automatically during that time throughout your program participation. The battery serves your home needs first — any energy left over after that is what gets exported to the grid and counted for your export credit.

What is the Low-Moderate Income (LMI) Adder?

The LMI Adder gives qualifying customers an extra $400 per committed kW upfront, on top of the standard incentive. To qualify, your gross annual household income (including everyone living in the home) must be below 140% of the area median income. You will need to submit and get confirmation of your LMI status before applying, and that confirmation is valid for one year.

What equipment and requirements do I need to participate?

You will need an advanced meter (Hawaiian Electric two-way communicating meter) and a new battery — batteries already enrolled in the old Battery Bonus program are not eligible to transition into BYOD Plus. Your battery must be charged from renewable energy sources, such as a paired rooftop solar system, per Hawaii Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards. Devices need a minimum committed capacity of 1 kW.

How long am I committed, and what if I need to end early?

BYOD Plus requires a 5-year commitment, and the program itself is approved to run for 5 years. If you end participation early after receiving your upfront incentive check, you will need to repay a prorated portion of it, with 60 days written notice to Hawaiian Electric. If you have not received an incentive check yet, you can withdraw without a payback by submitting the termination form.

Hawaiian Electric Bring Your Own Device Plus Program

Leverage rebates and incentives to reduce your cost to acquire backup power.

What Is the Hawaiian Electric Bring Your Own Device Plus Program?

The Bring Your Own Device Plus (BYOD Plus) program is about harnessing the extra battery power in households to help Hawaii on its clean energy journey. By participating in BYOD Plus, you’re not just a participant; you’re a partner in our collective effort towards a greener future. As Hawaiian Electric moves away from fossil fuels, your contribution directly adds renewable energy to the grid when it’s needed most, making a positive impact on our environment and community. Let’s work together to power Hawaii forward towards a sustainable goal of 100% clean energy by 2045. The BYOD Plus program offers customers incentives for purchasing a new battery and a customer-selected two-hour window everyday throughout the program participation duration. The battery will primarily serve the customer’s household first and any remaining excess will be the target for BYOD Plus usage.

Program Incentives

Upfront Enrollment Incentive

Incentive amounts are based on how much stored energy you agree to share during the customer-selected two-hour window everyday:

$400 / kW

committed with no maximum cap

additional $400 / kW

Low-Moderate Income (LMI) Adder

Monthly Export Credit

Provided every month for the energy drawn from the battery calculated based on an assumed exported amount to the grid.

Variable

Net Energy Metering (NEM) and NEM Plus customers will receive kWh bill credits for BYOD Plus participation. Participants with an underlying tariff other than NEM (e.g., CGS, CGS Plus) will receive a fixed monthly export credit

How to Participate

Work with a Fortress Power certified installer to get an estimate for an eligible system.
Your system is installed with a qualifying Fortress Power battery, inverter, and Guardian device.
After the installation is complete, enroll in Hawaiian Electric BYOD program using the Customer Interconnection Tool and choose your equipment incentive terms. Your installer will work with you on enrolling, or you can enroll using the Fortress Power EnergyBroker program application.
Hawaiian Electric confirms your battery is operating correctly.
Upfront incentives will be mailed out in the form of a check within approximately 2 weeks of GMP confirming the functionality of the installed system.

Helpful Links

Fortress Power EnergyBroker Application

Hawaiian Electric BYOD Program Information

Hawaiian Electric BYOD Program Flyer

Hawaiian Electric Customer Interconnection Tool

How the Program Works Once Your System is Installed

System Monitoring

The battery storage system needs to be installed in a location with an internet service so GMP can monitor your system. The Guardian Gateway or Dongle is required to program communications. You can see the same information using the Fortress Power Owner App.

Battery Export Details

Devices must have a minimum committed capacity of at least 1 kW to be eligible for BYOD Plus. The battery will automatically dispatch energy during a customer-selected two-hour window each day for the duration of program participation. Fortress Power will power your home first, with any excess energy within the committed battery dispatch power level exported to the grid during the selected window.

Fortress Power Example System

A customer that has a 15 kilowatt–hour (kWh) battery can commit 5 kW for 2 hours for a total of 10 kWh drained from the battery. The incentives they would receive are:

Eligibility

Hawaiian Electric Customers with an advanced meter
May not use the battery system for any controls other than providing backup power for the customer’s premises.
Participate in the BYOD program for at least five years
Have a reliable internet connection
Own the following hardware: