HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaiian Electric canceled its “Public Safety Power Shut-Off” (PSPS) procedure for West Maui, which had been activated due to elevated wildfire risks. Although residents were warned that their power could be shut off at any time, electricity remained on throughout the day for all customers.
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This marked the first time Hawaiian Electric implemented the PSPS, designed to prevent incidents similar to the devastating Lahaina wildfires last year. Notifications were sent to residents, prompting anxiety among some.
“Anytime anybody in West Maui or even in Maui in general gets one of those alerts on your phone, it’s kind of nerve-wracking,” said Sne Patel, president of the Lahainatown Action Committee. “You can’t help but think of what happened last year.”
Darren Pai, spokesperson for Hawaiian Electric, acknowledged the inconvenience caused to customers but emphasized the necessity of the alert. “We know this is going to have a big impact on them. It’s not something we take lightly,” he said.
One fire by re-energization caused Lahaina fire: ATF report The PSPS was activated in response to a red flag warning issued by forecasters, indicating increased fire danger due to dry conditions. “Typically in the summertime, we have more fire weather concerns,” said Laura Farris, a National Weather Service forecaster.
Maui fire officials supported the decision to activate the PSPS, noting that firefighters had been preparing for heightened risks. “This is really a collaborative effort between our company and the community, emergency responders, and government,” Pai added.
Local businesses also prepared contingency plans, and visitors expressed understanding of the potential changes. Pai noted, “We always wish we could give more notice, and we’re going to do our best to provide as much time as possible for preparations.”
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Patel remarked on the community’s adaptability, saying, “There’s going to be a lot of inconvenience, but I think the community understands. We’re just going to have to plan for this as a new normal.”
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