Hawaiian Electric's $450M Wildfire Safety Strategy

Hawaiian Electric has announced a comprehensive three-year, $450 million wildfire safety strategy aimed at reducing fire risks associated with its equipment, following the 2023 Maui wildfire disaster. The plan includes infrastructure upgrades such as the installation of sparkless fuses, AI-assisted cameras, and weather stations, as well as undergrounding power lines in high-risk areas like Lahaina. Hawaiian Electric has already implemented several measures, including replacing 23 miles of power lines and 3,558 sparkless fuses. The strategy, first initiated in 2019 and updated post-2023 wildfires, emphasizes community collaboration and is partly funded by federal grants. The utility is working with the Public Utilities Commission and pursuing additional federal funding to mitigate costs. Hawaiian Electric's plan reflects a commitment to a safer, more resilient Hawaii by addressing the challenges of extreme weather events through coordinated efforts.