INSIGHTSSERIES
Power & Utilities | Smart Grid
September 11, 2023
Wildfire Liabilities Pose Bankruptcy Risk for Hawaiian Electric as Climate Change Challenges Investor-Owned Utilities
The growing prevalence of wildfires ignited by power lines calls for increased focus on safety, reliability, and resilience in utility adaptation plans and investments.
Wildfires have significantly impacted the utility industry in recent years. Utilities in the U.S. West have come under intense scrutiny for failing to implement critical safety measures to prevent wildfires caused by power lines. The types of challenges that utilities face are changing…Read the full report
Key Takeaways
- Hawaiian Electric is faced with multiple lawsuits over its role in the Maui wildfires that resulted in more than 100 deaths and destroyed the town of Lāhainā.
- A jury in Oregon found PacifiCorp liable for nearly $90 million in damages from the 2020 Labor Day wildfires started by the utility’s power lines.
- Xcel Energy is facing lawsuits alleging that its power lines ignited the 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado.
