Hawaiian Electric activates PSPS program in West Maui due to wildfire risk, stands ready to shut off power

Update: 5 p.m., Oct. 16, 2024

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.

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. Any power outages on Wednesday were unrelated to the PSPS program.

Update: 3 p.m., Oct. 16, 2024

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.

As of 3 p.m., power remains on in West Maui as Hawaiian Electric continues to monitor wind speeds and weather conditions. Customers in this area are urged to prepare to implement their own emergency plans and prepare for the power to be off if a Public Safety Power Shutoff is deemed necessary.

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.

Update: 1:30 p.m., Oct. 16, 2024

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.

As of 1:30 p.m., power remains on in West Maui and Hawaiian Electric is actively monitoring wind speeds and weather conditions.

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.

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.

Previous post:

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.

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