In a significant effort to restore power and enhance electrical service reliability, Hawaiian Electric, in collaboration with federal, state, and county agencies, has undertaken a critical restoration project in Lahaina, Maui. The restoration work involves the replacement of damaged poles and other electrical equipment that sustained damage during windstorms and wildfires in the area.
This restoration initiative holds great importance as it will bring power back to wastewater pumps and telecommunication services, significantly improving the quality of life for surrounding residents and neighborhoods. The project encompasses the installation of temporary poles, transformers, power lines, and other essential equipment in the Lahaina area. These temporary measures are aimed at providing safe and reliable power while long-term community-driven plans are developed to address future energy needs.
Importantly, this temporary infrastructure does not rule out the possibility of underground utilities in the future, ensuring adaptability to evolving energy demands. The County of Maui, through its Emergency Operations Center and Emergency Management Agency, has requested that utility work commence in the coming weeks to restore county wastewater pumps servicing the area. Additionally, the restoration work paves the way for the interim rebuilding of two backup circuits, allowing power rerouting to customers and neighborhoods in the affected regions.
Since August 25, Hawaiian Electric has successfully restored power to more than 95 percent of Maui customers who experienced outages in West Maui and Upcountry. While power has been restored for most affected customers in West Maui, some areas in Lahaina remain without power under the jurisdiction of the Maui Emergency Operations Center. Hawaiian Electric eagerly awaits approval from the Maui EOC to proceed with restoring additional customers in these restricted-access areas.
Source: lahainanews.com