UHERO
Energy
UHERO fellows conduct research to evaluate impacts of past and prospective energy-related policies, and engage with policymakers and stakeholders on contemporary and emerging energy issues, such as natural hazard resilience and associated clean air goals, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and carbon taxes.
From Oil to LNG: Would It Really Lower Hawaii’s Electricity Rates?
Hawaiʻi’s electricity rates are the highest in the nation — roughly three times the U.S. average. The main reason is that the islands burn imported…
Hawai‘i’s Fuel Cost Problem: What the LSFO–LNG Price Comparison Really Shows
Hawaiʻi’s electricity rates are the highest in the nation — roughly three times the U.S. average — and have been for decades. The main reason…
A Proposal for Real-Time Pricing Tariffs for Large Electricity Customers
As Oahu’s electric grid transitions to clean energy, characterized by variable wind, solar, and storage resources, the marginal cost of electricity will become increasingly variable…
Optimal transmission expansion minimally reduces decarbonization costs of U.S. electricity
Solar and wind power are cost-competitive with fossil fuels, yet their intermittent nature presents challenges. Significant temporal and geographic differences in land, wind, and solar…
Effects of alternative pricing structures on electricity consumption and payments in the commercial and industrial sector
Abstract: We investigate the distributional and welfare impacts when commercial and industrial (C&I) electricity end users face a dynamic pricing structure as opposed to a…
Embracing TOU: Nudges, Rates, and Renewable Energy
By Michael Roberts, Nori Tarui and Ethan Hartely Hawaiian Electric Company is about to embark on a significant experiment: a pilot program introducing time-of-use (TOU)…
A Comparison of State-Level Carbon Reduction Strategies: A Case Study of Hawai‘i
Abstract: State-level electricity standards are proliferating and becoming more ambitious, with numerous US states adopting a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and a small but increasing…
Real-Time Pricing and the Cost of Clean Power
Solar and wind power are now cheaper than fossil fuels but are intermittent. The extra supply-side variability implies growing benefits of using real-time retail pricing…
Are We Building Too Much Natural Gas Pipeline? A comparison of actual US expansion of pipeline to an optimized plan of the interstate network
Interstate natural gas transmission and storage infrastructure is facilitated using regulated, private transactions. Pipeline companies obtain long-term contracts from producers and wholesale purchasers, typically local…