![]() Pai said that the electric company did not have a formal power shutoff plan and that any "short-notice power shutoffs have to be coordinated with first responders" because electricity was needed in Lahaina to power the pumps used for firefighting. In an era when wildfires have grown more prevalent and deadly, similar plans have been adopted to mitigate destruction in states such as California. ![]() Some survivors and attorneys across multiple lawsuits contend the company should have deployed a "public power shutoff plan," which would require the utility to intentionally turn off electric power in areas where wind could cause a fire. "This wildfire was not only predictable, it was predicted," Watts added, "both by (Hawaiian Electric) and anyone else that bothered to look into the issue." In one instance, a 2022 funding request for $189.7 million from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to harden its power grid statewide, Hawaiian Electric said that the risk of its utility system "causing a wildfire ignition is significant." The company said it needed the funding to ensure its facilities were not "the origin or a contributing source of ignition for a wildfire."ĭespite the request being approved, Hawaiian Electric did not act, the lawsuit alleges. "Their own papers say they knew how to prevent it, and their own papers showed their conscious and deliberate decision to delay the implementation of safety measures that would have prevented this tragedy - the most deadly wildfire in American history," Watts said. The risks were outlined in Hawaiian Electric news releases, documents it filed to the state, and in its own expenditure plans, and the lawsuit alleges that the firm's downed lines and grid equipment were the root cause. The lawsuit details multiple instances and documents in which Hawaiian Electric and public utility officials acknowledge the dangers of wildfires, and the potential for downed power lines and grid infrastructure to start them in areas where vegetation growth was not mitigated. He said similar litigation in California has led to safety improvements and processes that have limited recent wildfire fallout, and that Hawaiian Electric was aware of those efforts. ![]() Watts, who said his team has been approached by hundreds of potential plaintiffs, said his lawsuit is aimed at preventing the islands from ever experiencing fires like this again. are desperate for answers, devastated by the environmental destruction and loss of life. Hawaii residents and people across the continental U.S. Officials are still investigating the causes of the massive blazes that ravaged historic seaside communities and killed at least 101 people. He emphasized that "the cause of the fire has not been determined and we will work with the state and county as they conduct their review." Darren Pai, a spokesperson for the company, said Hawaiian Electric was aware of the allegations but remained focused on restoring power to Maui. Hawaiian Electric Company declined to comment on the pending lawsuits, saying that would violate an internal policy. ![]() Three other lawsuits filed in the aftermath of the fire that were reviewed by NBC News make similar claims against the company, which provides electricity to 95% of the state. "They were grossly negligent by making conscious decisions to delay grid modernization projects that would have prevented this very tragedy." "Hawaiian Electric is not just responsible and they weren't just negligent," said Mikal Watts, a lead attorney on the case. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
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