Why Hawaiian Electric Faces a Lawsuit After Maui Wildfires


Instead of acting to save lives, HECO sat by as its utility poles got knocked down and Lahaina burned. The lack of a formal shutoff program is an excuse that doesn’t withstand the evidence. HECO should be held accountable.
HECO used sound logic when it didn’t completely shut down Maui’s power. Hawaii needed electricity for firefighters and first responders to do their jobs. A power shutdown could have made the situation worse, and blaming one party for a complex problem does nothing to improve the situation. More context is needed here.
There is a 65% chance that Hawaiian Electric Company will file for bankruptcy before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.