Press conference on the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program, livestreamed by Hawaiian Electric on Facebook
(BIVN) – Hawaiian Electric on Wednesday announced it is launching its Public Safety Power Shutoff program on July 1st at specific areas on the island of Hawaiʻi and across the state, in order to reduce the risk of wildfire.
Under the program, Hawaiian Electric may “preemptively shut off power in certain areas it has identified as high risk during periods of forecast high winds and dry conditions.”
On the Big Island, the program will start in North Hawai‘i between Kohala and Waikoloa, in Kona between Kalaoa and Hōlualoa, and between the Mauna Kea Access Road and Waiki‘i Ranch, affecting about 19,300 customers. The utility has determined that these locations “present higher wildfire risk factors,” and in the future, the company intends to expand the program to cover “all high-risk areas.”
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