In a significant move for Hawaii's energy future, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) today approved Hawaiian Electric's 2025-2027 Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP), signaling a commitment to bolstering the resilience of the state's power infrastructure against the escalating risks of wildfires. The approval, announced on January 1, 2026, empowers Hawaiian Electric to implement a series of critical enhancements aimed at minimizing ignition risks and improving grid reliability. Further, the PUC completed their study on a wildfire recovery fund, which may provide additional support to those impacted communities.
The approved WMP encompasses a multi-pronged approach. This approach includes initiatives such as aggressive grid-hardening efforts, including the installation of covered conductors and the targeted undergrounding of power lines in high-risk areas. Specifically, Hawaiian Electric will focus on the areas as defined by their tiered mapping system, which helps with operational efficiency. Also included are enhancements to operational practices, such as expanded vegetation management programs and the deployment of advanced weather monitoring and enhanced fault detection systems. These enhancements aim to improve situational awareness and allow for real-time adjustments to operational protocols during periods of elevated wildfire risk. According to the Reuters report the Hawaiian Electric’s five-year Climate Adaptation Transmission and Distribution Resilience Program plan includes efforts to strengthen two critical power lines on Maui and replace thousands of poles with fire-resistant materials.
The PUC's decision also signals that a comprehensive study was completed concerning the creation of a wildfire recovery fund. Details on the fund creation are in the works. This fund could provide additional resources to assist communities impacted by wildfires, which aligns with the state's broader efforts to support recovery and resilience initiatives.
This plan from Hawaiian Electric also leverages lessons learned from the devastating Maui wild fires. This includes the use of increased collaboration, data collection and community outreach. Civil Beat reported in November of 2023 that the steps taken by Hawaiian Electric were to stop their transmission systems from igniting wildfires in dry, windy weather.
The approval of the WMP comes at a critical juncture, as Hawaii continues to grapple with the impacts of climate change and the increasing frequency of severe weather events. The implementation of the WMP is expected to reduce the risk of utility-caused wildfires and create for more reliable access to electricity across the islands. This will greatly benefit Hawaii's businesses and tourism industries, by minimizing the disruption from future emergencies and making for a more resilient economy.
