(ABOVE PHOTO) Courtesy: Hawai‘i Electric Light Company. HELCO employees are assessing increasing the distance between poles.

NEWS BRIEF

• In a media release issued on Sept. 18, HELCO says there is no immediate threat to their facilities or power lines.
• HELCO’s “key objective” is to maintain uninterrupted power for Puna. Plans include protecting utility poles,
  increasing the distance between poles, and re-routing power lines away from areas that could be impacted.

INSIGHTS

Mayor Billy Kenoi has been naming “uninterrupted service” as a top county priority for the people of Puna as the lava flow draws near. He says HELCO has been a part of the conversation.

HELCO employees meeting to prepare for the lava flow, courtesy: Hawai‘i Electric Light Company

PRIMARY SOURCE

Hawai‘i Electric Light is closely monitoring the progress of the lava flow in concert with Civil Defense and other agencies. At this time, there is no immediate threat to our facilities or power lines.

Because the progress of the flow is unpredictable, our company is developing plans and preparing for a variety of potential scenarios. With safety as our top priority, one of our key objectives is to maintain uninterrupted power for Puna.

We recommend that area residents review their emergency plans should an evacuation be necessary.

We’ll keep the media and public updated on our plans, as there are new developments.HELCO, media release on Sept. 18