MECO Avoids West Maui "Red Flag" Power Outage
IM: … "The company monitored weather conditions throughout the day and saw a steady drop of wind speeds in the afternoon. As a result, Hawaiian Electric did not shut off power to customers during the watch because of its PSPS program.” ….
read … MECO Avoids West Maui "Red Flag" Power Outage
October 16, 2024 - FINAL UPDATE: Hawaiian Electric deactivates Public Safety Power Shutoff watch
With the National Weather Service’s cancellation of the red flag warning for all Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian Electric has deactivated its Public Safety Power Shutoff watch.
October 16, 2024 - 3 PM UPDATE: Hawaiian Electric monitoring weather conditions, West Maui customers should prepare for potential power shut off due to wildfire risk
Due to the potential threat of wildfires from high winds and dry conditions, Hawaiian Electric is maintaining a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) watch and stands ready to proactively shut off power in West Maui in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk.
October 16, 2024 - 1:30PM UPDATE: Hawaiian Electric monitoring weather conditions, West Maui customers should be ready for power shut off due to wildfire risk
Due to the immediate threat of wildfires from high winds and dry conditions, Hawaiian Electric has activated its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program and stands ready to proactively shut off power in West Maui in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk. Customers in these areas are urged to prepare to implement their own emergency plans and prepare for the power to be off at least until 6 p.m.
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Hawaiian Electric shutting off power in West Maui due to wildfire risk
Public Safety Power Shutoff activated due to hazardous conditions
News Release from HEI 10/16/2024
KAHULUI, Oct. 16, 2024 – Due to the immediate threat of wildfires from high winds and dry conditions, Hawaiian Electric expects to activate its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program around 12 p.m. and proactively shut off power in communities in West Maui with high exposure to wildfire risk. For safety, this shutoff may last most of the day. Customers in these areas are urged to prepare to implement their own emergency plans and prepare for the possibility of extended power outages.
In addition, Hawaiian Electric is currently working to restore power to a non-PSPS outage in Upcountry Maui affecting approximately 150 customers.
The National Weather Service today issued a Red Flag Warning for leeward areas on all islands running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hawaiian Electric continues to monitor high winds and dry conditions across the state. If necessary, Hawaiian Electric will proactively shut off power on other islands to address any immediate wildfire risks.
“We sincerely apologize for the disruption. We have activated our PSPS program as a last line of defense to protect lives and reduce the risk of a wildfire,” said Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president and chief operations officer. “We will continue to monitor conditions closely and restore power as soon as we can safely do so.”
For more information and maps, call Hawaiian Electric’s PSPS hotline at 1-844-483-8666 toll-free or go to hawaiianelectric.com/PSPS. Follow Hawaiian Electric on social media or our mobile app.
PSPS Process
Power will remain shut off so long as hazardous weather conditions persist.
When the weather improves, power lines must be inspected and any damage must be repaired before service can be restored. This may involve ground crews and aerial inspections using helicopters and drones.
This process may result in extended outages lasting several hours, possibly even days depending on the location and extent of any damage.
Please stay safe
Stay at least 30 feet or more away from all power lines. Warn others to stay away. Call Hawaiian Electric’s Trouble Line for Maui at 1-808-871-7777 or for emergency assistance call 911.
If you must travel, please help protect line workers and crews when you see them on the roadside assessing damages or making emergency repairs. Move over from the lane nearest the workers or slow down until you can safely pass the work site.
Use extreme caution when driving. Power interruptions may cause traffic signals to stop working without warning. If you come to an intersection with a non-working traffic signal, treat it as a four-way stop.
If using a portable generator, make sure it is placed in a well-ventilated area outside the home, and be sure to carefully follow all instructions in the manufacturer’s manual.
Ensure that all electric appliances, especially ovens and stoves, are turned off to prevent fires when the power comes back on.
How to stay informed
Hawaiian Electric will provide updates frequently through the news media and the following mobile-friendly resources:
Hawaiian Electric website: hawaiianelectric.com
Twitter/X: @HwnElectric; @mauielectric; @hielectriclight
Facebook: facebook.com/HawaiianElectric
Mobile app: free download available on Apple App and Google Play stores
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Hawaiian Electric monitoring wildfire risk conditions
Public Safety Power Shutoff may be activated
News Release from HEI, 10/16/2024
HONOLULU, Oct. 16, 2024 – The National Weather Service today has issued a red flag warning for the state of Hawaii for the hours between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Hawaiian Electric is monitoring high winds and dry conditions across the state, which may lead to an increased risk of wildfires. If necessary, Hawaiian Electric may implement its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program to proactively shut off power in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk. Customers in these areas are urged to implement their own emergency plans and prepare for the possibility of extended power outages.
For more information and maps, call Hawaiian Electric's PSPS hotline at 1-844-483-8666 toll-free or go to hawaiianelectric.com/PSPS.
What we’re doing
At Hawaiian Electric, we have activated our PSPS emergency response plan, which includes:
- Closely monitoring weather
- Deploying observers to monitor conditions and look out for any fire risks
- Coordinating with state and county emergency response officials
- Urging customers to prepare for possible power outages and to make safety their top priority
How you can prepare
Safety is always Hawaiian Electric’s top priority. We urge customers to make it their top priority, too:
- Check emergency equipment such as flashlights, emergency generators, battery-operated (hand-crank or solar) radios, light sticks, and lanterns to be sure they are operational, and buy extra batteries.
- Make sure you have a battery-powered radio on hand to listen for updates on the weather conditions and possible PSPS activation.
- If someone in your home is dependent on electrically powered, life-sustaining medical equipment, check backup facilities. Plan where to go if an evacuation is ordered. If you need to go to the hospital or other emergency shelter, remember to take your medical equipment and medications with you to the facility.
- If you plan to use a portable generator, make sure it is placed in a well-ventilated area outside the home, and be sure to carefully follow all instructions in the manufacturer’s manual.
- Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. If power goes out, this will keep food fresher longer.
- Turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment, especially sensitive electronics. If an outage occurs, this will prevent damage to the equipment from surges when power is restored.
- Don’t venture out in the dark, because you might not see a downed power line that could be energized and dangerous; avoid standing water and debris.
- If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet or more away from all power lines. Warn others to stay away. For emergency assistance call 911. For Hawaiian Electric, call our Trouble Line:
How to stay informed
Hawaiian Electric will provide updates frequently through the news media and the following mobile-friendly resources:
COVERAGE:
MN: Hawaiian Electric shuts off power in West Maui due to wildfire risk | News, Sports, Jobs - Maui News
SA: HECO to activate public safety shutoff at noon in West Maui | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (staradvertiser.com)
CB: HECO Calls Off Warning Of Power Shutoffs On Maui