Power Restoration Progress Reduces Immediate Operational Risk
As of February 9th, Hawaiian Electric has successfully restored power to approximately 80 percent of customers previously affected by outages. This significant restoration effort, observed by 8 a.m. on February 9th, indicates a notable reduction in widespread operational disruptions across the islands.
Who's Affected
- Small Business Operators: Businesses that experienced downtime due to power loss can anticipate a return to normal operations. However, sectors heavily reliant on continuous power, such as restaurants with refrigeration and retail with electronic point-of-sale systems, should remain vigilant about the remaining 20% still affected.
- Real Estate Owners: Property managers and landlords can expect fewer tenant complaints related to power interruptions. Owners of commercial properties should confirm with their tenants whether power has been fully restored to their specific units.
- Tourism Operators: Hotels, tour operators, and hospitality businesses can resume normal service levels. This progress supports visitor satisfaction and reduces the need for backup power generation, lowering immediate operating costs.
- Agriculture & Food Producers: Farms and food processing facilities that may have faced spoilage or operational halts can now restart or stabilize their processes. Continued monitoring is advised for areas still experiencing outages that could impact critical infrastructure like irrigation or cold storage.
- Healthcare Providers: Clinics and medical facilities reliant on consistent power for equipment and patient care can operate with reduced risk. However, any remaining localized outages will still pose a critical threat to sensitive medical technology and patient well-being.
Second-Order Effects
Stabilized Power Grid → Reduced Business Interruption Costs → Improved Local Supply Chains: The restoration of power significantly reduces immediate financial losses for businesses from spoiled inventory, lost sales, and reduced productivity. This stabilization allows for more predictable operations, supporting the flow of goods and services within local supply chains, which is particularly crucial for an island economy reliant on timely deliveries and consistent production. If extended outages were to persist in critical zones, it would lead to significant increases in food costs and product scarcity for consumers and other businesses.
Power Restoration → Lower Reliance on Backup Generators → Reduced Operating Expenses for Businesses: Businesses that were forced to use costly backup generators can now cease operations, leading to immediate savings on fuel and maintenance. This frees up capital that can be reallocated to other critical areas such as staffing, inventory, or marketing, thereby bolstering overall business resilience and potentially contributing to more stable pricing for consumers.
What to Do
Action Level: WATCH
While the majority of power has been restored, the remaining 20% of affected customers indicate that some areas are still experiencing significant disruptions. Businesses not yet fully restored should continue to prioritize reliable power sources and assess any lingering damage or loss.
Action Details: Monitor Hawaiian Electric's outage map and restoration updates daily for at least the next two weeks. If your business remains in a permanently affected zone or experiences repeated, prolonged outages, review your business continuity plan, assess the cost-benefit of investing in upgraded backup power solutions, and document all direct and indirect financial losses for potential insurance claims or disaster relief applications. If localized outages exceed 48 hours in a critical operational area, initiate your full business interruption response protocol.
