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Hawaiian Electric urges customers to prepare for extended power outages as storm moves across the state

Release Date: 1/30/2025

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HONOLULU, Jan. 30, 2025 – Hawaiian Electric is urging customers to prepare for the possibility of extended power outages due to a powerful storm system that is moving across the state. Outages are being reported on all islands as strong winds and thunderstorms began early this morning. The number of customers and impacted areas are dynamic and will change as the storm makes its way across the island chain.

“Our crews are currently responding to outages and we want to reassure our customers that we’re on the job, ready for the impacts of this storm system,” said Jim Alberts, senior vice president and chief operations officer. “In the past 24 hours, we’ve increased our restoration team and have workers standing by to restore power as quickly as possible. As long as it’s safe, we’ll work continuously after the storm clears until all customers have power again.”

“We urge our customers to complete their preparations and make safety their highest priority,” Alberts said. “And we thank our customers in advance for their patience with what could be a challenging couple of days. Please know that we’ll be out in force as soon as it’s safe to work.”

Depending on the storm’s ultimate path and intensity, damage to the electrical infrastructure could be extensive. Repairs could take longer, and in extreme cases require us to rebuild parts of our system. Flooding, fallen structures, debris and other obstacles also can affect the scope and speed of power restoration.

Immediately after the storm clears, we will send out teams to conduct damage assessments so we can estimate when repairs will be finished and power restored in each affected area.

How we restore power following a storm

We don’t restore power based on when customers report an outage, where customers live or the status of accounts. Rather, we begin with multiple locations and follow an overall plan that calls for restoring power to the largest number of customers safely and as quickly as possible.

  • We start by repairing any damage to our power plants and the power lines that carry electricity from our plants to the local substations.
  • We prioritize restoring power to critical facilities such as hospitals, the Board of Water Supply pumping sites, wastewater plants, military facilities, and the airports.
  • At the same time, we work to return service to the largest number of customers in the shortest amount of time.
  • From there, we repair the infrastructure serving smaller groups and neighborhoods, converging on the hardest hit areas until every customer’s power is restored.

What you can do

  • Prepare to be without power for at least a couple of days and keep a battery-operated radio on hand with a fresh supply of batteries.
  • If someone in your home is dependent on electrically powered, life-sustaining medical equipment, check backup facilities. Plan where to go should the need for evacuation occurs. If you need to go to the hospital or other emergency shelter, remember to take your medical equipment and medications with you to the facility.
  • If you plan to use a portable generator after the storm, make sure it is placed in a well-ventilated area outside the home, and be sure to carefully follow all instructions in the manufacturer’s manual.
  • Keep cash on hand. If power outages do occur, you may not be able to withdraw cash from banks or ATMs.
  • Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. If power goes out, this will keep food fresher longer.
  • Turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment, especially sensitive electronics. In the event of an outage, this will prevent damage to the equipment from surges when power is restored.
  • If your power goes off, use flashlights or chemical light sticks instead of candles or kerosene lamps, and be careful with cooking flames. Open flames may create a fire hazard, and the fire department may not be able to respond promptly.
  • If you are cooking when an outage occurs, remember to turn off the stove, oven, or other appliances, and remove all items such as pots and pans from the burners.
  • If you become trapped in an elevator, relax and stay calm until help arrives. Use any available emergency communications system in the elevator or your mobile phone to communicate where you are and who is with you. Do not try to force open the elevator doors, and do not attempt to exit a stalled elevator car without the assistance or direction of trained emergency personnel.
  • Don’t venture out in the dark, because you might not see a downed power line that could be energized and dangerous; avoid standing water and debris.
  • If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet or more away from all power lines. Warn others to stay away. Contact Hawaiian Electric or for emergency assistance call 911.
  • Visit hawaiianelectric.com/stormcenter for more preparation and safety tips.

How to stay informed

Hawaiian Electric will provide updates frequently through the news media and the following mobile-friendly resources: