HONOLULU — A final 5 p.m. update from Hawaiian Electric announces the company has deactivated its Public Safety Power Shutoff watch due to the cancellation of the Red Flag Warning throughout the state.

The company said any power outages throughout the day were not related to the PSPS program.

According to a 3 p.m. update from Hawaiian Electric, the company said it has activated the Public Safety Power Shutoff program and is preparing for a potential power shut off because of a risk of wildfire, but has not actually shut down power.

However, a previous release from the company under the header, “Hawaiian Electric shutting off power in West Maui due to wildfire risk” stated, “Hawaiian Electric expects to activate its Public Safety Power Shutoff program around 12 p.m. and proactively shut off power in communities in West Maui with high exposure to wildfire risk. For safety, this shutoff may last most of the day.”

Hawaiian Electric is monitoring wind speeds and weather conditions and customers in the West Maui area are urged to prepare if a Public Safety Power Shutoff is deemed necessary, according to the company.

After activating its Public Safety Power Shutoff program early Wednesday, Hawaiian Electric shut off power to communities in West Maui at about noon due to the high risk of wildfires.

The company said in a release that the outage may last most of the day for safety reasons and continued to urge customers in the area to prepare for an extended outage.

In addition, Hawaiian Electric is working to restore power to a non-PSPS outage in Upcountry Maui affecting roughly 150 customers.

Maui County areas under the Red Flag Warning include west and leeward Molokai; south, windward, leeward and mauka Lanai; leeward West Maui; Maui’s north and south Central Valley; South Maui; and Upcountry and South Haleakala, according to the National Weather Service.

“We sincerely apologize for the disruption. We have activated our PSPS program as a last line of defense to protect lives and reduce the risk of a wildfire,” said Hawaiian Electric Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Jim Alberts in the release. “We will continue to monitor conditions closely and restore power as soon as we can safely do so.”

The PSPS process entails shutting off power as long as hazardous conditions persist, and even after weather improves, crews will need to inspect power lines and repair any damage before power is restored. This could result in extended outages lasting several hours to possibly days.

In addition to preparation tips provided below, Hawaiian Electric encourages those who must travel to help protect crews working on the roadside by slowing down and moving over from the lane near workers. They also remind those driving that traffic signals may stop working and to treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

Hawaiian Electric is monitoring high winds and dry conditions across the state in response to a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service earlier Wednesday.

Due to the increased risk of fires, Hawaiian Electric has activated its Public Safety Power Shutoff program that will shut off power in communities that face a high risk of wildfires. They are urging customers in these areas to implement emergency plans and prepare for the possibility of extended power outages.

People can call Hawaiian Electric’s PSPS hotline at 1-844-483-8666 toll free or visit the PSPS webpage for maps and information.

Activation of the PSPS program means the company is monitoring the weather, deploying personnel to monitor conditions and look for fire risks, coordinating with state and county emergency response officials, and urging customers to prepare for possible power outages.

Preparation tips:

• Check emergency equipment — flashlights, emergency generators, battery-operated/hand-crank/solar radios, light sources — to ensure they’re operational.

• Have a battery-powered radio on hand to listen for updates on weather conditions and possible PSPS activation.

• If someone in your home is dependent on electrically powered, life-sustaining medical equipment, check backup facilities. Make plans for an evacuation. Pack medical equipment and medications ahead of time in case you need to go to the hospital or other emergency shelter.

• Follow instructions in the manufacturer’s manual if you plan on using a portable generator and place it in a well-ventilated area outside the home.

• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings to keep food fresher longer in case of a power outage.

• Turn off and unplug unnecessary electrical equipment such as sensitive electronics to avoid damage from surges and turn off stoves and ovens to prevent fires when power is restored.

• Don’t venture outside in the dark in case of a downed power line that could be energized and dangerous. Avoid standing water and debris.

• Assume a downed power line is energized and dangerous and stay at least 30 feet or more away from it. Warn others to do the same. Call 911 for emergency assistance. Call Hawaiian Electric’s Trouble Line:

  • Oahu, 1-855-304-1212
  • Hawaii Island, 808-969-6666
  • Maui, 808-871-7777
  • Molokai, 1-877-871-8461

Hawaiian Electric suggests staying informed for updates via the news and social media:

Editor’s note: The article has been updated with information that Hawaiian Electric has not shut down power to West Maui customers and has deactivated the PSPS program as of 5 p.m. (Oct. 16, 2024)