Hawaiian Electric customers who have struggled to pay their power bills during the COVID-19 pandemic may receive a one-time $90 credit by the end of the month.
Through Hawaiian Electric’s “Kokua Fund,” the company will apply $2 million in credits to about 22,000 customers who were at least 30 days overdue on their power bills and owed at least $200 as of Dec. 31.
The one-time credit is applied automatically, with no application required by customers. Those accounts that meet the criteria will be notified of their eligibility, and the credit will appear on their February statements as a line item labeled “Kokua Fund Credit.”
Customers also can check their eligibility online through Hawaiian Electric’s online customer service.
“Our priority during the pandemic has been to keep customers connected,” said Hawaiian Electric President and CEO Shelee Kimura in a statement. “Many people have been affected by the pandemic and we have designed this program to reach as many as we can, especially those for whom this credit will be the most meaningful. No application is necessary, as we envisioned a quick, simple way to provide some relief for qualified customers in the new year.”