Utility cooperative to discuss new Wildfire Mitigation Plan for Kauaʻi at Tuesday public meeting

Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative will present information about its Wildfire Mitigation Plan on Tuesday at a community meeting of the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission.

Following the August 2023 wildfires that devastated Lāhainā, the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative hired a specialized consultant to explore and implement possible fire mitigation measures.

The result was the development of Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan, which outlines strategies and activities to reduce risk for its members and customers in the near term and allows for refinement and improvement over time.

The objectives of the plan are to increase reliability and safety; prevent, mitigate, respond to, assist and recover from wildfires; comply with laws, government regulations and guidelines; and reduce liability.

The hybrid public meeting will present information about the Wildfire Mitigation Plan at the Līhuʻe State Office Building at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and share their views during the meeting.

Written comments may be submitted online on the commission’s website, by email at puc@hawaii.gov, or by mail at 465 S. King Street #103 Honolulu, HI 96813. The comments should reference Docket No. 2025- 0213.

Attend the meeting virtually by following this link, https://hpuc.my.webex.com/hpuc.my/j.php?MTID=m0cf274c2a18621b86a90194299f63698 and using the meeting number, 2554 024 3837 and password, nX5sBiCKB22, or 69572425 when dialing from a phone.

The hearing will also broadcast live on community television and livestream on the Commission’s YouTube channel.

The current Wildfire Mitigation Plan can be found at this link: https://kiuc.coop/sites/default/files/documents/KIUC%20WMP%20V0%
20Final.pdf.

To reach the Public Utilities Commission, call 808-586-2020 or email puc@hawaii.gov.