Drone inspectors help Hawaiian Electric reduce wildfire risk on Big Island, Maui, Oʻahu

Drones will buzz and hover overhead in neighborhoods on the Big Island, Maui and Oʻahu as they inspect Hawaiian Electric electrical infrastructure in areas at risk of wildfire.

The unmanned aerial inspectors are part of the electric utility’s ongoing wildfire safety strategy, enabling it to identify problems more quickly and thereby reduce the risk of wildfires.

Hawaiian Electric contracted Osmose, a utility services company that serves the United States and Canada, to conduct drone inspections on the Big Island in cooperation with its staff.

Inspections will typically be conducted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; however, if necessary, they could be conducted on Sundays.

Personnel will drive Hawaiian Electric or Osmose-marked company vehicles. If on foot, a drone operator will wear a Hawaiian Electric or Osmose company hard hat and vest.

All personnel will carry a Hawaiian Electric contractor or employee ID badge.

Inspections are done at the poles and power lines. Operators will never request to enter a home or business.

Employees and contractors might have to access a utility pole by entering private property such a as a yard, but they will make their presence known beforehand.

The work will not interrupt or impact electric service.

For questions about drone inspections, call Hawaiian Electric at 808-969-6999 or Osmose at 559-515-3840 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.