Appreciating My Electric Utility’s Challenges
I posted this in a solar forum explaining challenges for our local utility.
I have more respect for electric utilities living in the tropics than I did on the mainland. A bit of background.
The 2023 Lahaina fire was caused by sparks from re-energized, broken power lines that ignited unmaintained vegetation, leading to a fire that was later rekindled by severe winds and turned into a wildfire. Investigators from the ATF and the Maui Fire Department concluded the fire, which occurred at a utility pole in an area with unmanaged vegetation, was accidental. 102 people died in just a few hours, being trapped between the fire, the ocean and essentially the only road out of town.
Since that time, the state electric utility has taken and still continue a number of actions. The utility may take similar actions, however this is somewhat new here. Because of our terrain they often use helicopters to view the electric lines for vegetation. There can be some interesting changes in vegetation is short distances. For example, the observatories on Mauna Kea are at almost 14,000 feet elevation. Those power lines come from 45 miles away at sea level. Just my county/island is the size of the state of Connecticut yet has almost every climate in the world. Its climate extremes include significant temperature differences at high elevations, prolonged periods of drought and heavy rainfall, increasing sea level rise, and impacts from tropical cyclones. High mountain peaks can receive blizzards and ice, while low-lying areas are vulnerable to coastal flooding and saltwater intrusion. Lest we not forget, wrapping some of the electric poles with materials in an attempt to mitigate lava flows taking out the poles.
Just 2 days ago we had 2.5 inches of rain at a rate of 3.5 inches an hour. There was no hurricane or other weather event, just heavy rain. A couple hundred miles away on Kauai island is one of the wettest spots on earth which in 2018 got 49.69” of rain fell over a 24-hour period.
Hawaii County (through the Hawaii Electric Light Company, HELCO) has implemented protective measures for electric poles against lava flows, including concrete wraps, heat-resistant materials, and backfilling with cinder, although these are only effective for short periods against slow-moving lava. For faster, less predictable flows, HELCO has also applied protective measures like spraying water and foam on the poles. However, for critical infrastructure in areas facing significant lava threats, the long-term strategy involves relocating poles and upgrading lines to be more resistant to extreme weather events, rather than relying on direct lava protection.
We now have scheduled and unscheduled power outages when wind may be expected.
Understanding Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)
What it is:
Hawaiian Electric may shut off power in high-risk areas during periods of strong winds and low humidity to prevent wildfires.
Why it’s done:
It’s a safety measure to protect the community.
How you’ll be notified:
You will receive advance notice, typically 24 to 48 hours before a PSPS event is possible, through the channels listed above. However, if conditions become suddenly hazardous, there might be little to no notice.
What happens next:
During a PSPS event, Hawaiian Electric will provide regular updates. Crews will begin restoration after conditions are safe, which may take hours or even days.
On my island, there is one main road around the perimeter. If that road is blocked, we are out of luck as the detour can be a couple hours using the alternate route. A single car accident or single power pole down can cause an outage of many hours for lots of people. This is why I decided to install my own solar system.
It is easy to blame a utility such as the electric company when an outage happens, however I have a clearer view of many of their challenges now.