Credit agreement and long-term debt	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Credit agreement and long-term debt	Credit agreements and long-term debt Credit agreements. HEI. On April 2, 2014, HEI and a syndicate of nine financial institutions entered into an amended and restated revolving non-collateralized credit agreement (HEI Facility). The HEI Facility increased HEI’s line of credit to $150 million from $125 million, extended the term of the facility to April 2, 2019, and provided improved pricing compared to HEI’s prior facility. Under the HEI Facility, draws would generally bear interest, based on HEI’s current long-term credit ratings, at the “Adjusted LIBO Rate,” as defined in the agreement, plus 137.5 basis points and annual fees on undrawn commitments of 20 basis points. The HEI Facility contains updated provisions for pricing adjustments in the event of a long-term ratings change based on the HEI Facility’s ratings-based pricing grid. Certain modifications were made to incorporate some updated terms and conditions customary for facilities of this type. In addition, the HEI Consolidated Net Worth covenant, as defined in the original facility, was removed from the HEI Facility, leaving only one financial covenant (relating to HEI’s ratio of funded debt to total capitalization, each on a non-consolidated basis). Under the credit agreement, it is an event of default if HEI fails to maintain an unconsolidated “Capitalization Ratio” (funded debt) of 50% or less (actual ratio of 18% as of June 30, 2014, as calculated under the agreement) or if HEI no longer owns Hawaiian Electric. The HEI Facility does not contain clauses that would affect access to the facility by reason of a ratings downgrade, nor does it have broad “material adverse change” clauses, but it continues to contain customary conditions which must be met in order to draw on it, including compliance with covenants (such as covenants preventing HEI’s subsidiaries from entering into agreements that restrict the ability of the subsidiaries to pay dividends to, or to repay borrowings from, HEI). The facility will be maintained to support the issuance of commercial paper, but also may be drawn to repay HEI’s short-term and long-term indebtedness, to make investments in or loans to subsidiaries and for HEI’s working capital and general corporate purposes. Hawaiian Electric. On April 2, 2014, Hawaiian Electric and a syndicate of nine financial institutions entered into an amended and restated revolving non-collateralized credit agreement (Hawaiian Electric Facility). The Hawaiian Electric Facility increased Hawaiian Electric’s line of credit to $200 million from $175 million, provided for a term of the facility to April 1, 2015 (but which term is to be extended to up to April 2, 2019 upon approval by the PUC during the initial term, which approval is currently being requested), and provided improved pricing compared to Hawaiian Electric’s prior facility. Under the Hawaiian Electric Facility, draws would generally bear interest, based on Hawaiian Electric’s current long-term credit ratings, at the “Adjusted LIBO Rate,” as defined in the agreement, plus 125 basis points and annual fees on undrawn commitments of 17.5 basis points. The Hawaiian Electric Facility contains updated provisions for pricing adjustments in the event of a long-term ratings change based on the Hawaiian Electric Facility’s ratings-based pricing grid. Certain modifications were made to incorporate some updated terms and conditions customary for facilities of this type. The Hawaiian Electric Facility does not contain clauses that would affect access to the facility by reason of a ratings downgrade, nor does it have broad “material adverse change” clauses, but it continues to contain customary conditions which must be met in order to draw on it, including compliance with several covenants (such as covenants preventing its subsidiaries from entering into agreements that restrict the ability of the subsidiaries to pay dividends to, or to repay borrowings from, Hawaiian Electric, and restricting its ability as well as the ability of any of its subsidiaries to guarantee additional indebtedness of the subsidiaries if such additional debt would cause the subsidiary’s “Consolidated Subsidiary Funded Debt to Capitalization Ratio” to exceed 65% (ratio of 42% for Hawaii Electric Light and 45% for Maui Electric as of June 30, 2014, as calculated under the agreement)). In addition to customary defaults, Hawaiian Electric’s failure to maintain its financial ratios, as defined in its credit agreement, or meet other requirements may result in an event of default. For example, under the credit agreement, it is an event of default if Hawaiian Electric fails to maintain a “Consolidated Capitalization Ratio” (equity) of at least 35% (ratio of 54% as of June 30, 2014, as calculated under the credit agreement), or if Hawaiian Electric is no longer owned by HEI. The credit facility will be maintained to support the issuance of commercial paper, but also may be drawn to repay Hawaiian Electric’s short-term indebtedness, to make loans to subsidiaries and for Hawaiian Electric’s capital expenditures, working capital and general corporate purposes. Changes in long-term debt. May 2014 loan. On May 2, 2014, HEI entered into a loan agreement with The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Royal Bank of Canada and U.S. Bank, National Association, which agreement includes the same financial covenant and customary conditions as the HEI credit agreement described above. On May 2, 2014, HEI drew a $125 million Eurodollar term loan for a term of two years and at an initial interest rate of 1.12% for an initial three month interest period. The proceeds from the term loan were used to pay-off $100 million of 6.51% medium term notes at maturity on May 5, 2014, pay down maturing commercial paper and for general corporate purposes.

Credit agreements and long-term debt

Credit agreements.

HEI. On April 2, 2014, HEI and a syndicate of nine financial institutions entered into an amended and restated revolving non-collateralized credit agreement (HEI Facility). The HEI Facility increased HEI’s line of credit to $150 million from $125 million, extended the term of the facility to April 2, 2019, and provided improved pricing compared to HEI’s prior facility. Under the HEI Facility, draws would generally bear interest, based on HEI’s current long-term credit ratings, at the “Adjusted LIBO Rate,” as defined in the agreement, plus 137.5 basis points and annual fees on undrawn commitments of 20 basis points. The HEI Facility contains updated provisions for pricing adjustments in the event of a long-term ratings change based on the HEI Facility’s ratings-based pricing grid. Certain modifications were made to incorporate some updated terms and conditions customary for facilities of this type. In addition, the HEI Consolidated Net Worth covenant, as defined in the original facility, was removed from the HEI Facility, leaving only one financial covenant (relating to HEI’s ratio of funded debt to total capitalization, each on a non-consolidated basis). Under the credit agreement, it is an event of default if HEI fails to maintain an unconsolidated “Capitalization Ratio” (funded debt) of 50% or less (actual ratio of 18% as of June 30, 2014, as calculated under the agreement) or if HEI no longer owns Hawaiian Electric. The HEI Facility does not contain clauses that would affect access to the facility by reason of a ratings downgrade, nor does it have broad “material adverse change” clauses, but it continues to contain customary conditions which must be met in order to draw on it, including compliance with covenants (such as covenants preventing HEI’s subsidiaries from entering into agreements that restrict the ability of the subsidiaries to pay dividends to, or to repay borrowings from, HEI).

The facility will be maintained to support the issuance of commercial paper, but also may be drawn to repay HEI’s short-term and long-term indebtedness, to make investments in or loans to subsidiaries and for HEI’s working capital and general corporate purposes.

Hawaiian Electric. On April 2, 2014, Hawaiian Electric and a syndicate of nine financial institutions entered into an amended and restated revolving non-collateralized credit agreement (Hawaiian Electric Facility). The Hawaiian Electric Facility increased Hawaiian Electric’s line of credit to $200 million from $175 million, provided for a term of the facility to April 1, 2015 (but which term is to be extended to up to April 2, 2019 upon approval by the PUC during the initial term, which approval is currently being requested), and provided improved pricing compared to Hawaiian Electric’s prior facility. Under the Hawaiian Electric Facility, draws would generally bear interest, based on Hawaiian Electric’s current long-term credit ratings, at the “Adjusted LIBO Rate,” as defined in the agreement, plus 125 basis points and annual fees on undrawn commitments of 17.5 basis points. The Hawaiian Electric Facility contains updated provisions for pricing adjustments in the event of a long-term ratings change based on the Hawaiian Electric Facility’s ratings-based pricing grid. Certain modifications were made to incorporate some updated terms and conditions customary for facilities of this type. The Hawaiian Electric Facility does not contain clauses that would affect access to the facility by reason of a ratings downgrade, nor does it have broad “material adverse change” clauses, but it continues to contain customary conditions which must be met in order to draw on it, including compliance with several covenants (such as covenants preventing its subsidiaries from entering into agreements that restrict the ability of the subsidiaries to pay dividends to, or to repay borrowings from, Hawaiian Electric, and restricting its ability as well as the ability of any of its subsidiaries to guarantee additional indebtedness of the subsidiaries if such additional debt would cause the subsidiary’s “Consolidated Subsidiary Funded Debt to Capitalization Ratio” to exceed 65% (ratio of 42% for Hawaii Electric Light and 45% for Maui Electric as of June 30, 2014, as calculated under the agreement)). In addition to customary defaults, Hawaiian Electric’s failure to maintain its financial ratios, as defined in its credit agreement, or meet other requirements may result in an event of default. For example, under the credit agreement, it is an event of default if Hawaiian Electric fails to maintain a “Consolidated Capitalization Ratio” (equity) of at least 35% (ratio of 54% as of June 30, 2014, as calculated under the credit agreement), or if Hawaiian Electric is no longer owned by HEI.

The credit facility will be maintained to support the issuance of commercial paper, but also may be drawn to repay Hawaiian Electric’s short-term indebtedness, to make loans to subsidiaries and for Hawaiian Electric’s capital expenditures, working capital and general corporate purposes.

Changes in long-term debt.

May 2014 loan. On May 2, 2014, HEI entered into a loan agreement with The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Royal Bank of Canada and U.S. Bank, National Association, which agreement includes the same financial covenant and customary conditions as the HEI credit agreement described above. On May 2, 2014, HEI drew a $125 million Eurodollar term loan for a term of two years and at an initial interest rate of 1.12% for an initial three month interest period. The proceeds from the term loan were used to pay-off $100 million of 6.51% medium term notes at maturity on May 5, 2014, pay down maturing commercial paper and for general corporate purposes.