As drought grips more than 70% of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian Electric is preparing emergency power shutoffs to prevent wildfires.
Spectrum News reported that the company is ramping up its Public Safety Power Shutoff plan. The goal is to lower fire risk on days when dry ground and strong wind make electrical infrastructure more hazardous than usual.
What’s happening?
Hawaiian Electric rolled out the program after the 2023 Maui wildfires. It’s a preventive measure to cut power in areas where dry and windy conditions can encourage the spread of fires.
Crews have replaced old wooden poles, upgraded copper lines, and switched out aging fuses and arrestors. They also plan to reinforce roughly 94 miles of power lines to better handle high heat and fire risk.
The company will cut power when certain conditions occur: winds over 45 mph, relative humidity below 45%, and ongoing drought. To help residents prepare, there’s a…
