Consumer Advocacy – Public Utilities (DCA)

To keep customers and communities safe, Hawaiian Electric is implementing a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program as part of our Wildfire Safety Strategy. This type of program has been used in other states to prevent wildfire ignitions from electrical infrastructure. Under the PSPS program, we may proactively shut off power in designated areas if weather forecasts and ground observations show high-risk conditions, including high winds.

The PSPS program will be used as a last line of defense in high-risk areas starting July 1, 2024, and it could result in extended outages. The areas are:

·         O‘ahu: Waianae, Mākaha, Nānākuli, Maili, and Ka‘ena Point (approximately 2,700 customers)

·         Hawai‘i Island: North Hawai‘i between Kohala (below 18 mile marker) and Waikoloa, in West Hawai‘i between Kalaoa and Hōlualoa, and between Mauna Kea Access Road and Waiki‘i Ranch (approximately 19,300 customers)

·         Maui: West Maui, Upcountry, parts of Central and South Maui (approximately 25,300 customers)

·         Moloka‘i: Parts of central Moloka‘i (approximately 11 customers)

View PSPS Maps

 

These areas have a combination of risk factors for wildfires, including exposure to strong winds, dry conditions, vegetation that could burn easily, a history of wildfires and a concentration of communities and critical assets. If you don’t live in these areas, you will not experience a PSPS this year, but it’s possible in extreme weather events with high winds your power could go out, so everyone should be prepared.

For more information, call Hawaiian Electric’s PSPS hotline at 1-844-483-8666 toll-free or go to hawaiianelectric.com/PSPS for detailed information about how PSPS will work.

Before activating a PSPS, we’ll notify the public and coordinate with government officials, first responders and critical infrastructure operators. We’ll provide notifications through social media, radio and TV, website updates and the Hawaiian Electric mobile app. We’ll try to provide as much advance notice as possible, but if weather conditions change suddenly, shutoffs may occur with little or no notice.

It’s important for you and your family to have an action plan so you know what to do if you see the PSPS Alert. As with a hurricane, you should be prepared to be without electricity for an extended time, possibly days. Check out the Hawaiian Electric Emergency Handbook for ways to prepare.

During a PSPS, power will remain off as long as hazardous weather conditions persist. When the weather improves, power lines will be inspected for damage before service is restored, and that may take hours, possibly even days.

We ask that all customers update their contact information through the Online Customer Service Center. Customers using electric-powered medical equipment or who refrigerate medication are urged to prepare for the possibility of extended power outages. Those customers should provide their contact information to Hawaiian Electric to receive notifications in advance of a PSPS by submitting an online Medical Needs Communications Form.

We know that shutting off power is disruptive and has broad impacts across the community. That’s why we’re working with state and county agencies to ensure that if we need to activate a PSPS it will be done in a way that maximizes safety. Over time, we’ll use technology and grid resilience strategies to reduce the impact and duration of PSPS events.

Mahalo for your understanding and for being prepared for the extreme weather events that are becoming more common in Hawai‘i.