U.S. House to hold hearing on Maui fires

by Kim Jarrett, The Center Square, Sept 16, 2023

(The Center Square) - A U.S. House committee will hold a hearing on Hawaiian Electric's reaction to the Maui fires later this month.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash, and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith, R-Va., said there were questions about a downed power line sparking dry grass and contributing to the fires. The committee also wants more information on the utility company's work on its power grid in recent years.

"We must come to a complete understanding of how this disaster started to ensure Hawaii and other states are prepared to prevent and stop other deadly wildfires," Rodgers and Griffith said in a joint statement. “In our capacity as Chairs of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the U.S. House of Representatives and its respective energy policy and oversight subcommittees, we are empowered to oversee energy supply, reliability of all power, and regulation of energy resources throughout the country. To that end, we seek a fuller understanding of the role, if any, of the electric infrastructure in this tragic event.”

Shelee Kimura, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric, will testify at the September 28 hearing. The utility's chairman, Leodoloff Asuncion Jr. and Mark Glick, the chief energy officer for the state, will also appear, according to the committee.

Maui County sued Hawaiian Electric last month. The suit alleged the utility company's failure to shut off the power lines during a red flag warning on August 7 led to downed power lines sparking the dry grass.

The official cause of the fire is under investigation by the state attorney general's office.

Gov. Josh Green said last week all of Maui will reopen on Oct. 8. The western part of the island affected by the fires is still closed as officials work on cleaning up the damage. Tourism is the state's top industry, and returning visitors will help spur the economy, he said.

The reopening will not affect efforts to house fire victims, the governor said this week.

"Our commitment is to get people to 18 months of housing," Green said in a social media post. "But we're not going to kick people out of hotels. What we're going to do is we're going to try and consolidate so that we only use a few hotels so we can get services to people."

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Chair Rodgers and Griffith Announce Oversight Hearing on Maui Fires, Invite Utilities and State Energy Officials to Appear

Press Release from House Energy and Commerce Committee,  Sep 14, 2023

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today announced a hearing on the recent tragic fires in Maui, Hawaii. The hearing will take place on September 28, 2023, and the following individuals are expected to testify: 

Ms. Shelee Kimura, President & CEO, Hawaiian Electric 
Mr. Leodoloff R. Asuncion, Jr., Chairman, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission 
Mr. Mark B. Glick, Chief Energy Officer, Hawai’i State Energy Office 

Chairs Rodgers and Griffith, along with Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) recently launched an investigation into the Maui fires of last month. In a recent letter to the three officials, they wrote: 

“Our hearts are with the people of Maui as they confront immense grief, sadness, and despair, especially for those who are still searching for their missing loved ones. The pain is unimaginable and the road to recovery is long. We must come to a complete understanding of how this disaster started to ensure Hawaii and other states are prepared to prevent and stop other deadly wildfires.” 

[…] 

“In our capacity as Chairs of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the U.S. House of Representatives and its respective energy policy and oversight subcommittees, we are empowered to oversee energy supply, reliability of all power, and regulation of energy resources throughout the country. To that end, we seek a fuller understanding of the role, if any, of the electric infrastructure in this tragic event.” 

BACKGROUND: 

On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, a series of deadly fires broke out on the island of Maui and in the town of Lahaina, resulting in the tragic loss of many lives and the destruction of entire communities. 
The fires are the deadliest in modern U.S. history, with the current death toll at more than 100 lives and many hundreds more still missing. 
Reported evidence of a downed power line sparking dry grass in Lahaina indicates that Hawaiian Electric equipment may have contributed to the fires. 
Information is also coming to light about actions taken – or not taken – by Hawaiian Electric to harden and modernize the electric grid of Maui in response to the growing risk of wildfires in recent years. 

Note: Additional information regarding the hearing will be announced in the coming days. 

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SA: Hawaiian Electric CEO expected to testify at U.S. House hearing on Maui fires

CB: US House Sets First Hearing On HECO’s Role In Deadly Wildfires

Sept 14, 2023: Chair Rodgers Delivers Opening Remarks on Securing America’s Grid (house.gov)