Businesses and homeowners on Kauai that generate their own electricity from photovoltaic systems and other renewable sources would be able to sell power back to the electric company under a pilot program being considered by the state Public Utilities Commission.

The program would help bring Kauai up to speed with Oahu and other jurisdictions around the country that have embraced “net energy metering” as a way to encourage the use of eligible renewable energy electricity generators by residential and commercial customers.
The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative approved the NEM pilot project at a special board meeting Oct. 14 and yesterday submitted the plan to the PUC. The proposal has the backing of the state consumer advocate, the Hawaii Renewable Energy Association and the Hawaii Solar Energy Association.