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HB243
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
243
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to energy
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that meeting
the State's goal of transitioning completely to renewable energy by 2045 for electricity
and transportation is most cost-efficient when certain measures are taken
during the construction of new homes rather than as retrofits after
construction has already been completed.
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The legislature further finds that
when undertaken during home construction, preparation for the future
installation of infrastructure for photovoltaic systems and electric vehicles
can leverage existing work activities with minimal additional time and
effort.
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In contrast, retrofitting a
completed home to install photovoltaic infrastructure may require breaking and
repairing walls, installing longer conduits, and performing expensive upgrades
of already-installed electric service panels.
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Retrofitting a finished home to install electric vehicle infrastructure
may also require trenching, demolition, and re-paving.
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Furthermore, the costs for permitting,
inspection, and project management are lower for new construction than for
existing structures.
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On February 18, 2020, the office of
climate change, sustainability and resiliency of the city and county of
Honolulu provided cost estimates for certain measures passed by the Honolulu
city council in order to make new homes photovoltaic- and electric vehicle-ready.
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The cost estimate for solar conduit- and
electric panel-readiness and electric vehicle-readiness ranges from $100 to
$300.
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The city and county of Honolulu
enacted a measure to require solar conduit- and electrical panel-readiness for
new construction and a measure to require electric vehicle-readiness when an
electrical panel and parking area are installed.
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The legislature finds that these important
actions should be adopted statewide.
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Therefore,
the purpose of this Act is to require, beginning on January 1, 2026:
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(1)
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Solar conduit- and
electrical panel-readiness for new residential construction offered for sale at
fair market value; and
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(2)
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Electric vehicle-readiness
when an electrical panel and parking area are installed.
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SECTION
2.
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Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to
read as follows:
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�196-A
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Photovoltaic
infrastructure; new residential construction.
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(a)
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With respect to the construction of new
residences, construction plans shall indicate:
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(1)
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A location for inverters,
metering equipment, battery equipment, energy storage equipment, and other
equipment to interconnect a residence with on-site solar energy generation
facilities with the electric grid in compliance with all applicable laws and
utility tariffs; and
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(2)
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A pathway for the
routing of conduits from the solar panel location to the point of
interconnection with electrical service.
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(b)
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An
electrical panel with the capacity to accommodate no less than a five-kilowatt
alternating current photovoltaic system shall be installed for each newly
constructed single-family residence or each residential unit within a
two-family detached residence or duplex.
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(c)
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An
electrical panel that includes reserved space to accommodate a photovoltaic
system shall be installed for each newly constructed multi-family
residence.
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The electrical panel shall be
sized:
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(1)
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To serve common-area
electrical loads; or
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(2)
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To the amount
of available space on the roof of the multi-family residence.
The
reserved space shall be clearly labeled "solar photovoltaic-ready".
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(d)
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All feeders and electrical distribution equipment, including switchgear,
switchboards, and panelboards, that will be fed simultaneously by the electric
grid and other power sources shall be sized to support the installation of
future solar energy generation systems in accordance with the interconnection
requirements of the applicable electrical code.
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(e)
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Conduits of no less than one and one-half inches that provide a pathway
from the electrical panel to the inverter location and from the inverter
location to the underside of the roof sufficient to allow future installation
of solar equipment shall be installed for all newly constructed residences.
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(f)
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If
conduits are to be installed between buildings or other structures, the
construction plans shall provide sufficient details to demonstrate that
compliance with the applicable electrical code's restrictions on the number of
power supplies to each building or other structure has been examined.
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(g)
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This section shall apply only to buildings
exclusively occupied by residential units offered for sale at fair market
value.
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(h)
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As
used in this section:
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"Residential unit" means each
individual dwelling in a two-family detached residence or duplex that is designed
or used exclusively for residential occupancy and has all necessary facilities
for permanent residency, such as living, sleeping, cooking, eating, and
sanitation.
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"Single-family residence" means an
individual, freestanding, unattached dwelling unit, typically built on a lot
larger than the structure itself, resulting in an area surrounding the
dwelling.
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"Two-family detached residence"
means a freestanding, unattached dwelling unit that is intended or designed to
be occupied by only two families in the following manner:
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(1)
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The individual
residential units are constructed side by side and joined by a common wall; or
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(2)
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One residential
unit is located on the first floor and the other residential unit is located on
the second floor.
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�196-B
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Electric vehicle-readiness.
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(a)
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In addition to the requirements of the applicable
electrical code, if an application for a building permit involves the
installation of an electrical panel and parking area for:
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(1)
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A multi-family
residence of three or fewer stories; or
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(2)
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A single-family
residence, two-family detached residence, or duplex,
a
dedicated receptacle for an electric vehicle shall be provided with a minimum alternating
current level 2.
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(b)
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As
used in this section:
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"Residential unit" has the same
meaning as in section 196-A.
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"Single-family residence" has the
same meaning as in section 196-A.
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"Two-family detached residence" has
the same meaning as in section 196-A.
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SECTION 3.
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In codifying the new sections added by
section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate
section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this
Act.
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SECTION
4.
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New statutory material is
underscored.
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SECTION 5.
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This Act shall take effect on January 1,
2026.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Photovoltaic
Systems and Electric Vehicles; Readiness; New Residential Construction
Description:
Requires
solar conduit- and electrical panel-readiness for new residential construction
offered for sale at fair market value and electric vehicle-readiness when an
electrical panel and parking area are installed.
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Effective 1/1/2026.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.