By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: Maui electricity bills rose 27% from June 2025 to June 2026, Civil Beat reported, and a Maui residential bill for August 19 to September 17, 2026 worked out to about 48¢ per kWh all-in. Hawaiian Electric is asking the PUC for a 6.4% Maui increase, estimated at about $14 a month after phases in January 2027 and January 2028.

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui, and when I run the monthly numbers on a home or condo with buyers, electricity belongs right next to the mortgage, HOA dues and insurance. It is one of the costs people moving to Maui most often underestimate, so here is what is driving Maui electricity rates in 2026 and how I suggest planning for them.

Why are Maui electricity rates so high in 2026?

The short answer is fuel. Maui still relies heavily on oil-fired power plants, and fuel costs make up about half of a typical electric bill.

In April, Hawaiian Electric warned customers that oil prices had jumped about 50% in March, after the conflict involving Iran began on February 28, and that typical residential bills could rise 20% to 30% over the following months, with Maui’s increases starting in May and June. That warning played out. Civil Beat reported in July that Maui bills were up 27% from June 2025 to June 2026, with oil near $90 a barrel compared with about $65 to $70 a year earlier.

What does a real Maui electric bill look like right now?

On my own household’s bill for the 30 days from August 19 to September 17, 2026, electricity cost about 48¢ per kWh all-in, and the fuel charge alone was 58% of the total. Here is the breakdown:

Line item (Aug. 19 to Sept. 17, 2026)	Amount
Customer charge	$11.50
Non-fuel energy	$274.97
Energy cost recovery (fuel)	$535.55
Other adjustments and surcharges	$104.49
Green infrastructure fee	$1.16
Total for 1,934 kWh	$927.67

Across my household’s five full monthly bills from May through September, the all-in cost ranged from about 48¢ to 51¢ per kWh. That household uses a lot of power, about 64 kWh a day. At a similar all-in rate, a household using 500 kWh a month would pay roughly $240 to $250.

Rates change every month with fuel costs, so later bills may look different. Homes with air conditioning, a pool pump or an electric water heater can easily use more than 500 kWh a month. For comparison, Hawaiian Electric’s average residential price on Maui for 2025 was 41.58¢ per kWh.

What is Hawaiian Electric’s proposed rate increase (Docket No. 2026-0162)?

It is a “rebasing” request now before the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission (PUC) as Docket No. 2026-0162, and it would raise Maui Electric’s revenue by about $29.3 million, or 6.4%. According to the PUC’s public notice, the full request is:

Utility	Requested increase
Maui Electric (Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi)	about $29.3 million (6.4%)
Hawaiian Electric (Oʻahu)	about $112.2 million (4.9%)
Hawaiʻi Electric Light (Hawaiʻi Island)	about $28.4 million (5.8%)
Combined	about $170 million (5.3%)

The increase would come in two phases: about $125 million on January 1, 2027 and about $45 million more on January 1, 2028. The PUC estimates the Maui residential impact at about $14 a month after both phases. Hawaiian Electric has cited inflation, rising insurance premiums and the retirement of older power plants as reasons for the request.

No decision has been made yet. The PUC held its Maui public hearing on Tuesday, September 29, at Puʻu Kukui Elementary School in Wailuku, and Hawaii News Now reported that testimony at the Maui and Kona hearings was unanimously opposed. The PUC accepts written comments while the docket remains open.

How should Maui home buyers budget for electricity?

Start with real bills, not estimates. These are the steps I walk buyers through:

• Ask for actual bills. Request the last 12 months of electric bills from the seller, or ask the property manager for typical usage on a rental.
• Look at what runs on electricity. Central air conditioning, an electric water heater, a pool or a home office all add up quickly.
• Understand the solar setup. If a home has photovoltaic panels, find out whether they are owned or leased, what agreement they operate under, and whether there is battery storage. A leased system usually needs to be transferred to the buyer.
• Check for efficiency rebates. Hawaiʻi Energy, the state’s energy-efficiency program, was offering rebates of up to $700 on heat pump water heaters this spring. A water heater upgrade is one of the easier ways to lower a bill.

Electricity is one line in a bigger budget. My breakdown of Maui home affordability at today’s mortgage rates covers the loan side, and my post on Maui’s new water rates covers another utility that has moved this year.

My Take: What I’m Telling Buyers and Homeowners

With fuel at 58% of a recent bill, the fuel adjustment matters far more month to month than the proposed rebasing. The PUC’s estimate of about $14 a month is real money, but a swing in oil prices can move a Maui bill by much more than that. I suggest budgeting with a range, not a single number.

When I compare two properties, I put their last 12 months of bills side by side and ask what drives the usage: air conditioning, a pool, an electric water heater, or a solar system that is or isn’t doing its job. On a home with solar, I want the ownership or lease documents early, because a lease transfer can affect the closing timeline.

For current owners, the practical steps are an efficiency upgrade where it makes sense and, if you have a view on the proposal, a written comment to the PUC under Docket No. 2026-0162 while it remains open.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does electricity cost per kWh on Maui?

It changes monthly with fuel prices. On a Maui residential bill covering August 19 to September 17, 2026, the all-in cost was about 48¢ per kWh, including the customer charge, fuel adjustment and surcharges. Hawaiian Electric’s average residential price on Maui for 2025 was 41.58¢ per kWh.

When would the proposed Hawaiian Electric increase take effect?

If the PUC approves it, the first phase would begin January 1, 2027 and the second on January 1, 2028.

How much would the increase add to a Maui bill?

The PUC estimates about $14 a month for a typical Maui residential customer after both phases, on top of whatever fuel costs are doing at the time.

Can I comment on the proposal?

Yes. Written comments can be submitted to the PUC under Docket No. 2026-0162 while the docket is open.

Ask Benjamin

If you are comparing Maui homes or condos, I’m glad to help you gather real utility bills, HOA details and insurance quotes so you can see the full monthly picture before you commit. I’m Benjamin Finnerty, and you can call or text me at 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com anytime.

Sources: Hawaiian Electric residential bill (Aug. 19 to Sept. 17, 2026) and 2025 average price data; Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission notice, Docket No. 2026-0162; Hawaii News Now (Oct. 1, 2026); Honolulu Civil Beat (July 2026); Maui Now (April 1, 2026).