Company unveils 3-year action plan to reduce wildfire risk

Company unveils 3-year action plan to reduce wildfire risk
Hawaiian Electric plans to deploy new technology, fortify infrastructure, minimize fire hazards and expand community partnerships to significantly reduce the risk of a wildfire started by its equipment, actions detailed in a new Wildfire Safety Strategy.
The 3-year safety blueprint is an expansion of a plan first created by Hawaiian Electric in 2019 and updated in the months after the August 2023 windstorm and wildfires on Maui. The enhanced plan, filed for review by the Public Utilities Commission, underscores the recent emergence of extreme weather events as requiring a coordinated effort by many organizations and supportive public policy to keep communities safe.
The cost of the 2025-2027 plan is estimated at about $450 million, including $137 million budgeted for work in 2025. Some of the cost is already funded through existing programs, including a federal grant for grid resilience received in 2024. The company plans to continue refinement of the program and the long-term cost and scope of work are subject to change. Additional federal funding is being pursued.
The 179-page strategy was filed with the PUC on Jan. 10 for its review and acceptance.
Among the initiatives to be completed in the next three years:
- Ongoing grid hardening, asset inspections and vegetation management focused on areas with medium to high risk of ignition. This includes undergrounding about two miles of overhead power lines in critical safety areas in Lahaina.
- Installing more weather stations and hazard-detection cameras. The plan also includes creating a wildfire-focused Watch Office that will monitor such things as internal and external weather products and field reports to increase the company’s situational awareness.
- Ongoing engagement with stakeholders and communities. The com-pany will continue convening Wildfire Safety Working Group meetings and partnering with local organizations to host community events, reach individual residents and share resources.