Wildfire safety watch: Hawaiian Electric monitoring risk conditions

Hawaiian Electric is monitoring high winds and dry conditions on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, which may lead to an increased risk of wildfires. At this time, Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is in a “watch” condition, meaning that if weather conditions intensify in the next 24 to 48 hours Hawaiian Electric may proactively shut off power in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk. During this watch period, customers in these areas are urged to prepare for the possibility of extended power outages.

“A watch doesn’t mean we will shut off power, only that we are monitoring it closely in areas at the highest risk for wildfires. While we hope shutting off power won’t be necessary, we have to take this threat seriously and we urge our customers to be prepared and stay informed,” said Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president and chief operations officer.

Please be advised that outages not related to the company’s PSPS program could still occur due to high winds and other conditions.

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 is being done 

At Hawaiian Electric, we have activated our PSPS emergency response plan, which includes: 

• Closely monitoring weather
• Deploying spotters 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 with safety as their main focus 

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 and lanterns (make sure they are operational and buy extra batteries), emergency generators, battery-operated radios and light sticks. 
• Use your battery-powered radio to listen for updates on 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:
  • Oʻahu: 1-855-304-1212
  • Hawaiʻi: 1-855-304-9191
  • Maui County: 1-855-304-8181

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