02-27-2026, 10:18 PM
GROK agrees, says (fwiw):
HECO’s advanced meters are bidirectional, meaning they measure and record electricity flow in both directions—usage from the grid and any exports back to the grid.  This allows detection of reverse power flow or backfeeding, which can occur with plug-in solar if generation exceeds on-site consumption at any given time.  Such detection goes beyond just observing an overall drop in average metered usage, as the meters capture data in 15-minute intervals and can flag unauthorized exports or failures in non-export systems.   For self-supply or non-export setups, HECO uses these meters to monitor compliance, with allowances for minimal inadvertent exports (e.g., up to 60 seconds, no more than twice per day); exceeding this can trigger investigations or corrective actions.  If plug-in solar is installed without an interconnection agreement, any detected backfeed could lead to utility intervention, as unauthorized exports are prohibited under HECO’s rules. 
Cheers,
Kirt
HECO’s advanced meters are bidirectional, meaning they measure and record electricity flow in both directions—usage from the grid and any exports back to the grid.  This allows detection of reverse power flow or backfeeding, which can occur with plug-in solar if generation exceeds on-site consumption at any given time.  Such detection goes beyond just observing an overall drop in average metered usage, as the meters capture data in 15-minute intervals and can flag unauthorized exports or failures in non-export systems.   For self-supply or non-export setups, HECO uses these meters to monitor compliance, with allowances for minimal inadvertent exports (e.g., up to 60 seconds, no more than twice per day); exceeding this can trigger investigations or corrective actions.  If plug-in solar is installed without an interconnection agreement, any detected backfeed could lead to utility intervention, as unauthorized exports are prohibited under HECO’s rules. 
Cheers,
Kirt