Manoa homeowner Kenneth Chang received his first check for $1,344 from HECO late last month, thanks to his new feed-in tariff (FIT) solar system designed and installed by RevoluSun. As the first residential FIT participant on Oahu, Chang will continue to receive monthly checks for the solar electricity he sells to Oahu’s utility, HECO, to the tune of nearly $320,000 over the next two decades. Through the FIT program, the utility must pay its customers a fixed price for energy produced and returned into the grid under the FIT program.

“In 2009 I contacted RevoluSun to learn more about solar energy, and they walked me through the design and options for my home. RevoluSun Project Developer Abbie Willow made the entire process stress free – the installation was simple and efficient, and now I get only a monthly $15.99 bill for administrative fees from HECO, when before I was paying over $120 each month for energy,” said Chang. “Then last year, Abbie told me about the feed-in tariff. The idea that I could add to my system and get paid by HECO was too good to pass up. We installed the FIT system in August and now I’m getting paid to make clean, renewable energy!”

The first FIT participant on Oahu, Chang is also among the many homeowners who have already joined the RevoluSun to virtually eliminate their monthly electric bill, and now are looking to make even more solar energy to sell back to the utility, which is a little more than $0.27 per kWh for homeowners.

“We recommend Hawaii homeowners first install a net metered system, which makes enough solar energy to offset their actual usage energy consumption,” said Eric Carlson, RevoluSun Principal. “After that, if the home has enough roof space, a homeowner can add a FIT system, which actually makes them money while at the same time it creates clean energy. It’s a win-win for both the homeowner and Hawaii!”

Chang’s net metered system is a 4.1 kW system, and the FIT system is a 16.7 kW system. Driving by, one will see 88 SunPower panels on his roof, pumping out green energy every day.

"We at Hawaiian Electric Company salute Kenneth Chang of Manoa, our first residential customer on Oahu to sign up for the Tier 1 Feed-in Tariff," said Scott Seu, Hawaiian Electric vice president for energy resources. "The FIT provides a fixed contract and fixed payment to make it easy for people to sell renewable energy to us. Working with RevoluSun, Mr. Chang is going beyond producing renewable energy for his own use - under the FIT he is producing clean energy for our island and is helping Hawaii reduce its use of imported oil.”

The feed-in tariff and net energy metering are two ways HECO customers can benefit from producing renewable energy on their sites. With energy-efficient appliances and lighting, solar water heating and the right size photovoltaic system, Hawaii homeowners make a positive difference today and into the future.

“Kenneth is a model RevoluSunary – not only does he offset his own energy bill and spread the solar word through solar open houses at his home, but now he is making solar energy for others to use,” said Abbie Willow, RevoluSun Project Developer. “By taking advantage of various government incentives his investment will pay off in about 10 months and after that it’s pure profit.”