Operational changes, new technology and Public Safety Power Shutoff lead to estimated 60% reduction in wildfire risk from utility equipment

HONOLULU, November 12, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Since launching its expanded wildfire safety strategy one year ago, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. ("Hawaiian Electric"), a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HE) ("HEI"), has made significant improvements that have reduced the wildfire risk from its equipment. Its actions include a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program, replacing and testing thousands of utility poles, upgrading miles of overhead power lines, clearing intrusive vegetation near electrical equipment, and installing weather stations and AI-assisted high definition video cameras.

"There is no question that wildfires remain a persistent threat to our communities and we are taking that threat seriously. We continue to invest in new technology and upgrades to our infrastructure to make the grid more resilient, improve reliability and address growing risks from wildfires and other hazards," said Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president and chief operations officer.

The upgrades are part of Hawaiian Electricʻs multi-year grid resilience program to harden against wildfires, hurricanes, tsunami and flooding, and to adapt to impacts of climate change.

Hawaiian Electric has been working with Filsinger Energy Partners, a nationally recognized independent energy advisory firm that specializes in wildfire mitigation strategies and risk modeling, since early 2024. Filsinger estimates that the various wildfire risk mitigation actions and programs implemented by Hawaiian Electric have reduced the risk of wildfire from the utility’s equipment by approximately 60%.

Hawaiian Electric is spending about $120 million in 2024 to make wildfire safety improvements in four key areas:

Foundational Work:

• Developed wildfire risk maps based on the potential of ignition by utility equipment.

• Conducted inspections of circuits in high-risk areas to prioritize hardening work.

• Continued ongoing vegetation management efforts in areas adjacent to power lines on all islands, spending $100 million in the last four years.

• Installing 3,534 fire-safe fuses to reduce the risk of ignition.

• Installing 1,071 new lightning arrestors to further protect equipment from lightning strikes.

Operational Changes:

• Launched a Public Safety Power Shutoff program. Under this program, Hawaiian Electric may preemptively shut off power in areas that are at high risk of wildfires during periods of forecast high winds and dry conditions.

• Started deployment of spotters in risk areas during hazardous weather conditions.

• Set circuit breakers to automatically shut off power in risk areas when a disturbance is detected on a circuit.