Why is My HECO Bill So High? (And 5 Ways Renters Can Lower It)

If you recently opened a Hawaiian Electric (HECO) bill and your jaw dropped, you are not alone.

Hawaii residents pay the absolute highest electricity rates in the entire country—often hovering around triple the national average. For many renters, the monthly electric bill can easily rival a car payment, turning a “budget-friendly” apartment into a financial stressor.

At HAPI, we want our residents to thrive, not just scrape by. While you cannot install rooftop solar panels on an apartment building, there are several zero-cost, highly effective strategies you can use to drastically cut your energy usage.

Before we dive into the tips, let’s find out exactly what is draining your wallet.

Find Your “Energy Vampires” 

Most tenants blame their high bill on the lights or the refrigerator. The truth is, the biggest culprits are usually old air conditioning units, electric water heaters, and high-powered gaming PCs.

Use our interactive Appliance Cost Calculator below to see exactly how much your daily habits are adding to your HECO bill:

2. Slay the “Phantom Load”

Did you know that your electronics draw power even when they are turned off? This is called “phantom load” or “vampire power,” and it accounts for up to 10% of a typical residential electricity bill.

• The Fix: Your biggest phantom loads are large TVs, gaming consoles (like PS5 or Xbox in “rest mode”), microwave displays, coffee makers, and phone chargers left plugged in without a phone attached. Plug your entertainment center and home office equipment into a single smart power strip. Click the whole strip off when you go to bed or leave for work. This simple habit physically cuts the connection and stops the silent energy drain instantly.

4. Play “Refrigerator Tetris”

Your refrigerator runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Every time you open the door, the cold air escapes, and the compressor has to kick into overdrive to cool it back down.

• The Fix: An empty fridge has to work much harder than a full one. Solid items (like food and water pitchers) hold cold temperatures better than empty air. If your fridge is looking bare, fill a few empty milk jugs with tap water and leave them inside. They will act as “ice blocks” and keep the fridge cold with less electricity. You should also check your door seals using the “dollar bill test”: close a dollar bill in the door and pull it out. If it slides out easily without resistance, your cold air is leaking, and you should submit a maintenance request to have the seal replaced.

5. Check Your Window Coverings

The afternoon Hawaiian sun beating through a glass window acts like a magnifying glass, turning your living room into an oven. Your AC or fans then have to work twice as hard to cool it down.

• The Fix: Before you leave for work in the morning, close the blinds or draw the curtains on any east or west-facing windows. Keeping the direct sunlight out is the easiest, cheapest way to keep the ambient temperature of your apartment comfortable. Investing in inexpensive “blackout” or thermal curtains can block up to 33% of solar heat gain, significantly reducing the urge to blast the AC the moment you walk through the door.