Hawaiian Electric has started replacing poles and other electrical equipment damaged by the windstorms and wildfires in and around Lahaina as per the request from the County of Maui through its Emergency Operations Center (Maui EOC) and Maui Emergency Management Agency along with federal, state and county agencies and clearance to re-enter parts of Lahaina.
The upgrade will not only restore power to wastewater pumps and telecommunication services but also improve electrical service reliability to surrounding residents and neighborhoods. The work involves the installation of temporary poles, transformers, power lines and other equipment in and around the Lahaina area to provide safe and reliable power.
The officials have requested the work to start soon to restore wastewater pumps servicing the area. Once Hawaiian Electric completes the repair work, a central office in the Lahaina town area for telecommunication services can also be restored to grid power.
The work will also help the interim rebuilding of two backup circuits to reroute power to customers and neighborhoods in the Puamana, Launiupoko to Olowalu area and mauka of the Lahaina Bypass.
Since power cannot be rerouted from either of the two temporary mobile substations installed by Hawaiian Electric, without backup circuits customers may experience extended outages any time there is a disturbance in these areas.
