Multiple outlets reported that Hawaiian Electric has issued a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) watch for Maui County and Hawaiʻi Island through Sunday, citing high winds and dry conditions that elevate wildfire risk. The watch does not guarantee shutoffs will occur, but the utility is urging customers to prepare for possible extended outages. Hawaiian Electric is pre-positioning crews, monitoring weather closely, and coordinating with state and county emergency officials.
- Hawaiian Electric issued a PSPS watch effective through Sunday for Maui County and Hawaiʻi Island due to high winds and dry conditions.
- A watch means the utility *may* proactively cut power in high wildfire-risk communities if conditions worsen — it does not confirm shutoffs will happen.
- If outages occur at night — whether PSPS-related or wind-caused — power will remain off until crews can inspect lines and make repairs in daylight.
- Hawaiian Electric SVP and COO Jim Alberts stated: ‘A watch doesn’t mean we will shut off power, only that we are monitoring it closely in areas at the highest risk for wildfires.’
- The National Weather Service reported Friday that fire weather conditions are expected to remain below critical thresholds into next week. (Bigislandvideonews)
- Hawaiian Electric did not specify which exact Maui communities are at risk; on Hawaiʻi Island, areas typically affected include leeward districts of North and South Kohala and North Kona. (Bigislandvideonews)
- Customers are advised to: check flashlights, batteries, and generators; set refrigerators/freezers to coldest settings; unplug unnecessary electronics; and have backup plans for medical equipment.
- For shutoff maps and updates, visit hawaiianelectric.com/PSPS or call the PSPS hotline at 1-844-483-8666; Maui customers can report electrical problems at 1-855-304-8181.
Sources
- Maui News: Hawaiian Electric issues power shutoff watch for Maui County
- Maui Now: Hawaiian Electric issues public safety power shutoff watch for Maui County and Hawaiʻi Island through Sunday
- Bigislandvideonews: Public Safety Power Shutoff Watch In Effect for Maui, Hawaiʻi Island
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