Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) Rate Selection Guide
Maui Electric Company (MECO), a Hawaiian Electric subsidiary, serves roughly 72,000 electric customers across Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. It operates full advanced metering with 15-minute interval data and supports Green Button Download My Data and Connect My Data via the NAESB REQ.21 ESPI standard, making programmatic energy data accessible to C&I customers and their authorized vendors.
Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule G | Small commercial | 14.2942 cents/kWh non-fuel + $31-$49/mo customer (verified) | Small businesses under 5,000 kWh/mo and 25 kW |
| Schedule J | General service demand | 9.6846 cents/kWh non-fuel + $13/kW demand (verified) | Commercial/industrial 25-200 kW |
| Schedule P | Large power | 7.2992 cents/kWh non-fuel + $25/kW demand (verified) | Facilities >=200 kW with steady high load |
| Schedule TOU-P | Large power TOU | Time-of-use demand/energy (see tariff) | Large loads that can shift consumption off-peak |
Market Overview
MECO is a regulated monopoly provider in Maui County under the Hawaii PUC. There is no competitive retail supply; all customers buy bundled generation, transmission, and distribution from MECO. Rates reflect Hawaii's high cost of imported fuel and are among the highest in the nation.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
MECO's primary C&I rate schedules are General Service Non-Demand (Schedule G), General Service Demand (Schedule J), and Large Power Service (Schedule P), plus Large Power Time-of-Use (Schedule TOU-P). Base non-fuel charges below are verified from the MECO tariff sheets effective September 1, 2019; total bills add the Energy Cost Recovery Clause, PPAC, PBF, and other surcharges, which fluctuate monthly and make Hawaii's all-in rates the highest in the US.
Effective: September 1, 2019 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule G - General Service Non-Demand | commercial | General light/power loads up to 5,000 kWh/month and up to 25 kW, single meter. | Customer charge $31.00/mo (single phase) or $49.00/mo (three phase); non-fuel energy charge 14.2942 cents/kWh; minimum charge $50/$68. Excludes fuel and surcharges. (Verified, eff. 9/1/2019) | — |
| Schedule J - General Service Demand | commercial | Loads exceeding 5,000 kWh/month or 25 kW but under 200 kW, single meter. | Customer charge $66.00/mo (single phase) or $82.00/mo (three phase); demand charge $13.00 per kW/mo; non-fuel energy charge 9.6846 cents/kWh; minimum billing demand 25 kW. Excludes fuel and surcharges. (Verified, eff. 9/1/2019) | — |
| Schedule P - Large Power Service | industrial | Large light/power loads equal to or greater than 200 kW, single voltage and delivery point. | Customer charge $350.00/mo; demand charge $25.00 per kW/mo; non-fuel energy charge 7.2992 cents/kWh; minimum billing demand 200 kW; supply-voltage credits up to 4.4%. Excludes fuel and surcharges. (Verified, eff. 9/1/2019) | — |
| Schedule TOU-P - Large Power Time-of-Use | industrial | Large power customers (>=200 kW) electing time-of-use pricing. | Time-differentiated demand and energy charges (on-peak/mid-peak/off-peak) plus customer charge. Specific cents/kWh per period are set in the TOU-P tariff sheet; consult the tariff. (Structure only - see tariff) | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Mid-size commercial facility (25-200 kW)
A retail store, office, or light-industrial site between 25 and 200 kW fits Schedule J.
Schedule J's $13/kW demand charge and 9.6846 cents/kWh non-fuel energy charge suit moderate-demand commercial loads; staying under 200 kW avoids Schedule P's higher demand charge.
- Pull 15-minute interval data to manage peak demand
- Watch the 11-month demand ratchet
- Consider energy efficiency PBF demand adjustments
Large industrial / resort load (>=200 kW)
Hotels, hospitals, and manufacturers above 200 kW belong on Schedule P or TOU-P.
Schedule P's 7.2992 cents/kWh non-fuel energy charge is the lowest among C&I schedules, offsetting the higher $25/kW demand charge for high-load-factor sites; TOU-P helps if load can shift off-peak.
- Evaluate supply-voltage delivery credits up to 4.4%
- Maintain power factor near 85%+ to avoid adjustments
- Model TOU-P against flat Schedule P
Multi-site C&I portfolio
Organizations managing many Maui accounts need consolidated, automated data.
Green Button Connect My Data or Nectar's API (docs.nectarclimate.com) provides daily 15-minute interval and billing data across all accounts without per-site portal logins.
- Use Green Button CMD (OAuth 2.0) for automated pulls
- Engage a key account manager for MyBiz exports
- Centralize demand analysis across sites
Sustainability / decarbonization reporting
ESG teams needing auditable interval and emissions data.
15-minute Green Button data supports hourly emissions matching and verifies solar/storage performance against Hawaii's high-renewable grid.
- Export 12+ months of interval data for baselines
- Pair with Smart Renewable Energy export data
- Automate via CMD for continuous reporting
Historical Rate Trends
MECO base rates were set in the 2017-0150 general rate case (D&O 36365, effective 2019). Total customer rates change monthly through the Energy Cost Recovery Clause and other adjustment mechanisms tied largely to fuel and purchased-power costs.
September 1, 2019
Base non-fuel rates set under Docket 2017-0150, Decision & Order No. 36365.
n/aJanuary 1, 2025
Lower fuel and purchased-power costs reduced all-in electricity prices across Maui County in 2025.
n/aOverall trend: All-in rates declined modestly in 2025 as fuel costs eased, but remain the highest in the US.
Next expected change: Ongoing monthly ECRC/PPAC adjustments; next base rate change subject to future PUC rate case.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because demand charges and fuel-driven surcharges are the largest levers on a MECO C&I bill, optimization centers on demand management, schedule selection, and on-site solar-plus-storage.
Demand management with interval data
For: Schedule J and P customers
Use 15-minute Green Button interval data to identify and shave coincident peaks; the 11-month demand ratchet makes a single spike costly.
Right-size your rate schedule
For: C&I customers near schedule thresholds
Compare Schedule J vs P (and TOU-P) using actual load factor; higher-demand schedules trade higher demand charges for lower energy charges.
On-site solar plus storage
For: All C&I customers with roof or land
Given the highest US retail rates, rooftop solar and batteries offset both energy and peak demand; pair with Smart Renewable Energy export programs.
Time-of-use shifting
For: Large power customers with flexible loads
Shift flexible loads to off-peak periods under Schedule TOU-P to reduce on-peak energy and demand exposure.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a Maui C&I customer get 15-minute interval data?▾
Log into the My Energy Use Portal through eservice.hawaiianelectric.com and download up to 12-24 months of 15-minute interval data as Green Button XML or CSV. For automated access, use Green Button Connect My Data (OAuth 2.0) or Nectar's API (docs.nectarclimate.com).
Which rate schedule applies to my commercial facility?▾
Under 5,000 kWh/month and 25 kW you are on Schedule G; between 25 and 200 kW you are on Schedule J (General Service Demand); at or above 200 kW you move to Schedule P (Large Power) or the time-of-use Schedule TOU-P.
Can a third-party energy vendor pull our MECO data?▾
Yes. The cleanest path is Green Button Connect My Data, where your business authorizes the vendor's app via OAuth 2.0 for ongoing ESPI API access. Alternatively, add the vendor as a secondary user, or arrange a Data Sharing Authorization through your key account manager.
Why are our all-in rates so high compared to the mainland?▾
Hawaii imports most of its fuel, so the monthly Energy Cost Recovery Clause and Purchased Power Adjustment Clause add large variable charges on top of base rates, making MECO's all-in C&I rates the highest in the US. This is why demand management and on-site solar-plus-storage deliver outsized savings.
Does MECO support EDI for meter data?▾
Not as a primary offering. MECO directs data exchange to the Green Button ESPI API (Connect My Data) rather than traditional ANSI X12 EDI. Large trading partners can inquire with Business Development at (808) 543-7711, but Green Button is the recommended modern path.
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