Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) is rolling out a comprehensive wildfire safety plan, which includes the installation of over 50 weather stations and nearly 80 AI-equipped cameras on utility poles across Hawaiʻi. The initiative aims to reduce fire risk and enable more informed decisions regarding weather-related utility responses.
Key Components of the Plan
The four-part plan includes:
- Installing weather stations to monitor environmental conditions
- Deploying AI-equipped cameras for early fire detection
- Hardening and redesigning the grid with new equipment and undergrounding lines
- Improving operational practices and community engagement
Enhanced Situational Awareness
“These cameras have 360-degree view capability,” explained Colton Ching, HECO’s vice president of grid modernization. “They’re augmented with artificial intelligence, so they can look for telltale signs of what may be a fire, and then flag operators that are manning a facility 24/7 to investigate.”
The data collected from the weather stations and cameras will be publicly accessible, enhancing transparency and community safety. A new watch office, separate from the grid operation headquarters, will be established this year to monitor the technology around the clock.
Improved Response and Risk Management
The watch office will not only monitor the cameras and weather stations but also provide updated weather forecasts and assess the grid’s infrastructure to adjust operations and reduce risks. This enhanced situational awareness will facilitate faster responses to weather-related events.
The new technology will also aid in creating updated wildfire risk maps, further informing HECO’s wildfire mitigation strategies. By combining advanced technology with grid hardening and improved practices, HECO aims to significantly reduce the risk of wildfires.
