- Business
- Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HECO), a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI), operates as Hawaii's principal electric utility, serving 95% of the state's 1.4 million residents across Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, Lanai, and Molokai through its subsidiaries Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., and Maui Electric Company, Limited; the company generates, transmits, and distributes electricity from a mix of oil-fired power plants including Waiau (499 MW on Oahu), Kahe (651 MW on Oahu), Maalaea (212 MW on Maui), and Keahole (78 MW on Hawaii Island, alongside smaller dispersed generation and hydropower facilities such as Puna, Hill, and Puueo Hydro totaling over 280 MW firm capacity on Hawaii Island; renewable integration includes solar farms like West Loch (20 MW) and wind, achieving 33% renewables overall in 2023 with goals for 100% by 2045 ahead of schedule, alongside support for electric vehicle infrastructure through expanded public fast-charging stations and grid modernization efforts. Founded in 1891 and headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric provides regulated utility services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers focused on reliable, affordable clean energy; it maintains non-firm capacities exceeding 900 MW on Oahu, 200 MW on Maui/Lanai/Molokai, and 160 MW on Hawaii Island, while advancing decarbonization via combustion turbine repowering at sites like Waiau and performance-based regulation since 2021. Recent developments include the sale of 90% of its stake in American Savings Bank for $405 million to finance Maui wildfire settlement obligations exceeding $4 billion agreed in 2024 with the State of Hawaii and other parties; divestiture of Pacific Current LLC's solar and battery storage assets as part of enterprise streamlining to core utilities; a $500 million unsecured debt offering and expanded credit facilities in September 2025; refreshed EV charging network with upgraded fast-charging equipment and expansion to 50 sites per regulatory approval; proposed $3 million annual rebates for backup power equipment in wildfire-prone areas targeting 4,800 low-to-moderate income customers; upgraded issuer credit ratings by S&P; and new Hawaii legislation capping future wildfire liabilities, authorizing $500 million securitization for safety improvements, and supporting clean energy procurement.