The Maui government is blaming Hawaiian Electric for the deadly wildfire that devastated the island earlier this month, killing 115 people and leaving 1,000 more missing. Maui County filed a lawsuit against the utility company on Thursday, accusing it of “intentional and malicious” mismanagement of the island’s power grid and covering up evidence at the scene of the fire.
Hawaiian Electric, which provides service to roughly 95% of Hawaiians, has come under heavy scrutiny in the wake of the fire for its failure to adequately implement fire mitigation efforts. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the utility company became aware of sparking powerlines and outdated infrastructure in 2019. Despite vowing to fix the problems at the time, the company invested only $245,000 over the course of four years, instead focusing the bulk of its funding on “green energy” initiatives.
Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!
As Valuetainment previously reported, the Maui wildfire first broke out earlier this month when weather systems from a nearby hurricane combined with dry inland conditions to create the perfect circumstances for a brush fire. Powerlines blown down by strong gusts of wind sparked fires that quickly spread out of control, destroying 2,170 acres of land and reducing the historic town of Lahaina to ash. With 115 confirmed deaths and an estimated 1,000 people still missing, this has become one of the deadliest wildfires in American history.
Maui County’s suit against Hawaiian Electric consists of two specific accusations: first, that the company “failed to power down their electrical equipment despite a National Weather Service Red Flag Warning on August 7”; second, that they did not implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff plan in keeping with “the practice of de-energizing power lines during fire weather conditions [which is] common in the Western United States.”
“Defendants knew of the extreme fire danger that the high wind gusts posed to their overhead electrical infrastructure, particularly during red flag conditions,” the lawsuit said, according to the New York Times.
Last week, company President and CEO Shelee Kimura said that such shutoff plans are controversial given their reliance on first responders and the potential danger posed to those with specialized medical equipment. The company responded to the suit by saying it is “very disappointed that Maui County chose this litigious path while the investigation is still unfolding.”
Hawaiian Electric is also facing scrutiny following reports that utility trucks actively blocked the only paved evacuation route out of Lahaina while repairing power poles as the fire closed in. According to testimony from survivors, only those who disobeyed the roadblock managed to make it to safety in time.
In the wake of the lawsuit and the other allegations, Hawaiian Electric’s stock has plummeted by upwards of 70% as of Thursday’s close.
Add comment