Over two hours. I want to take a moment of personal privilege. It is an article about hawaii and its history, some is good and some is not. The ninth district in virginia currently represent jennings was the only printing to vote so were kind of proud of that, its a little different than the rest of the state, sometimes good, sometimes bad but mostly good. Please take your seats. The subcommittee to order and i now recognize myself for five minutes for an Opening Statement. August 7 and eighth, a series of the out of maui and hawaii, including one that devastated the town of lahaina on the west coast of maui. When electric came in to dispute facts surrounding this event, one thing is important, its catastrophic to the state of hawaii and we must make every effort to be vigilant and prevent a similar disaster from striking again. Lahaina fire took at least 97 lives and burned thousands of acres cost billions and damage, destroyed landmarks. I am saddened to hear the stories of those who survived awaiting news of their loved ones who still remain unaccounted for. We are searching for housing and wrestling with how they will survive after fire consumed businesses and raised the tourism industry. Many continue to debate the circumstances contributed to the bars, its not too early to start examining what can be done better. For example, some wildfires multiplied over the years facility the spread. Experts who maintain when electric way too long to pursue important upgrades to modernize the electric grid. Others argued Maui Electric Company was particularly slow in placing outdated deteriorating holes supporting powerlines. There were decisionmakers are involved along the way and there is still much to sort out. The probe some of the concerns and in the attitude each requesting Additional Information and we thank our witnesses for responses to the request to look forward to responses today now like to take a moment to introduce our witnesses. We are joined today by president and chief executive officer of the hawaiian Electric Company to provide service for Hawaiian Electric corporations for 95 hawaiis residence did it in the summer. We will hear from mr. Mark, Energy Officer, office developing support and state Energy Policy goals and welcome junior, chairman of the commission and served as commissioners since 2019. The Commission Among other things really are Service Parameters and Public Utility Companies operating thursday. We will convene a second from our colleagues and her testimony. There are several investigations underway around the days which the fire spread and what has been done or not done in years prior. Congress has a responsibly to pursue the national Energy Policy which includes infrastructure prepared for events like wildfires and her again. Congress has a responsibly along with regulators and private sector partners. It is important we convene today ask the hard question. Given this infrastructure and its general jurisdiction over power utilities will focus on that aspect of the disaster, i hope weve learned it will inform efforts for the utility level to protect ratepayers and reduce the chances of losses of life and property for wildfires. That said, i will tell you we have another hearing going on downstairs so well see members moving in and out because members on the subcommittee. I think the witnesses for participating in this event and prevent similar disasters from unfolding in this manner going forward. I now recognize Ranking Member of the subcommittee for a five minute Opening Statement. Thank you, good morning, everyone. Seven weeks ago wildfires devastated the town of lahaina. This was a sudden horrific tragedy and on behalf of of the democratic side we send them to sincere condolences. One hundred people died and many more across their homes and businesses in the first on how quickly the fire spread in the chaos and confusion that resulted. Hawaiian neighbors and military service and coast guard, members raise to rescue people that day and work through, flames and pollution to save lives. They are heroes. More are on the ground dedicated recovery and relief. Understand that 27 partners including mimi, u. S. Army Small Business administration are helping the people get back on their feet. I appreciate the handson approach top of mind for congress at this moment of a threatened Government Shutdown must be to ensure recovery work continues uninterrupted for the people of maui. Hope we can learn more about the conditions that caused the fire and what else august can do for the island. There are things we do know, strong wind from nearby hurricane combined with Drought Conditions strength education led to advanced warnings. We know the fire started on the edge of town in lahaina on mauis west coast and grew out of control, ultimately devastated the town and claiming the lives of too many neighbors. Fire crews were dealing with another buyer miles away. We know people are still suffering from the losses of best friends and families, homes and firefighters are working to contain wildfires. What we do not know is what causes the fire and what more could have been done to prevent it from starting or spreading. Hawaii when electric this is a power line ignited an earlier fire in lahaina, the morning of august 8. The merry Fire Department said it extinguished the fire but then fire was reported again in the same location and it spread. National Weather Service began issuing alerts days before the fire began, important questions remain whether more could have been done to notify residents or deenergize powerlines sooner. There are critical questions about steps local officials spoken the five years wildfires maui in 2018. These are important questions already being investigated and while i strongly believe we have an important oversight role to play, i do think it would have been helpful to have the benefit of the on the ground finding from authorities for the attention of witnesses away from Recovery Efforts that appear before us. I appreciate your willingness to be here today and i hope we can learn more about this tragedy. They are delivered quickly and effectively. How electric and other infrastructures and rebuild in a more resilient way. Its only been seven weeks since the fire and emergency is not over. Investigators have time to do the work and present their findings. Until we get a clear picture, our primary focus must seem to be relief and Recovery Efforts for the people of maui and that includes keeping government open and ensuring federal resources are available. Thank you. Now recognize the chairwoman, chair of the full committee for her five minutes. We are examining tragic events that unfolded on the hawaiian island. August 7 and eighth, a series of fires broke out on the average including one that destroyed. Our deepest condolences of the people of maui as they face the daunting task of rebuilding their community, one loss of loved one, grapple with the memories of that terrifying day with the pain of seeing your home in your neighbors home destroyed within a matter of hours or minutes is gut wrenching. Ninetyseven lives lost to this disaster and we pray god provides strength and comfort to the loved ones. Many are missed. According to the university of hawaii disaster center, of his 2200 buildings were destroyed with about 86 of the buildings. We must do everything we can to minimize the chance such a destructive deadly disaster will occur again. Maui or anywhere else in the country. We failed to learn from this event, it very well could. Wildlife Management Organization reports each year the percentage of land burned by wildfire in maui is equal to or greater than any other in the nation and according to the author experts, the area burned across all four counties increased by three 100 in the last several decades. These are washingtonians are no stranger to disastrous consequences. Last month the rate and organ wildfire destroyed hundreds of homes and forced evacuations linked to two deaths. Hundreds are recovering from coping with the destruction. While its difficult to revisit occurred, we must examine any factors that could have caused or worsened the emergency and identify any necessary hazards allowed and pinpoint additional precautions that could have been taken. I understand debate about the factors beyond the cause spread continues but the Hawaiian Electric acknowledged Early Morning fire august 8 appears to have been caused by powerlines that fell high winds. What happened after that particularly concerning the fire lahaina and destroys lives, part of our job is to ensure every american has access to affordable and reliable energy, responsible including energy from safe and well maintained infrastructure. Theres a lot of emphasis on competing priorities when it comes to modernizing electric grid. We must make sure safety remains top already. A great not prepared for extreme weather or adequately maintain is not only unreliable but unacceptable safety hazard that could potentially cost billions and engager lives. We cannot prevent and control every hazard such as high winds that struck maui leading up to the fire. We must harness our great hazards and address wildfire such as vegetation, overgrowth and appropriate precautions for extreme weather. Traveling across the country to be here today in a difficult road ahead. I hope today we can learn how congress can be a Strong Partner for an address with safety investigations, we hope it provides clarity on how and why the disaster unfolded such as catastrophic and what steps can be taken. The Ranking Member of the full committee. Thank you, mr. Chairman. The wildfires in lahaina on august 8, i want to offer my deepest sympathy for the devastating energy. There are many Unanswered Questions about how the terrible tragedy happened, im not going to go through all the things mentioned in terms of what happened or what we know. I know First Responders try to contain able to evacuate tragically it is completely out of control. I want to say we cant underestimate the enormity of the disaster and destruction and the fact that so many died in so many are missing and they have not been identified and many residents are living in temporary shelters. Officials estimate over 2000 structures were damaged or destroyed it will be a long road to rebuild and Emergency Responders are working day and night to fight the ongoing fires on the island they many appear to have contributed to the catastrophic fires, extremely high winds pushing flames through dry education nestle device and prevent successful firefighting efforts. Evacuation due to downed trees and power lines on gridlock on the roads in and out of lahaina. Power outages for communication problem rated for the confusion. We do not know my emergency fire alarms were not activated to warn residents or what role the electric grid may have played that ultimately destroyed lahaina. In terms of government response, the acting government state of emergency the day the fire started in two days later the governor requested the declaration which was granted by the Biden Administration and 48 hours fema was on the ground something search and rescue. Several investigations getting to the bottom of this disaster. And i look forward to hearing from our witnesses but i am concerned this hearing is shifting attention in resources away from ongoing relief effort on maui and the official investigations that are still in the early stages. Congress should focus on ensuring the federal government can continue providing relief to the people of maui. That means funding the government and funding Femas Disaster Relief Fund which the president has asked it to do. That is something specific that we and only we cant and should do without delay. The reckless government showdown over shutdown i i should say h we know is imminent with slow maoris ability to rebuild and recover. And after all this disaster is that over. Thousands are displaced and in desperate need of housing. Firefighters are still working and utility crews are working to restore power and repair damaged infrastructure. Im hopeful investigations will provide answers so we can learn from this tragedy to ensure this does not happen again. Right now we must do all we can to support the residence of mowrer recover and rebuild. Shutdown is not the answer. Its hard for us here in the midst of this potential shutdown to be talking about how much we can do because we dont know if government is going to be able to do anything it by tomorrow night or saturday the government to shut down. That is certainly not easy for us to say to you were going to help when we dont even know if the governor is going to be open. I guess my main thing and a know it sounds political but i cant help it because if the government shuts down its a serious question about what were actually going to do. But any case we appreciate everybody being here. We are determined to do whatever we can to help. So thank you, mr. Chairman. [inaudible] i i thank the gentleman. Gentleman jill spac. The chair would like to rise all members written Opening Statements will be made part of the record. Please provide those to the clerk probably. I didnt think our witnesses for being here today and taken the time to testify before the subcommittee. You will have an opportunity given Opening Statement followed by a round of questions from our members. Our witness today are miss shelee kimura, president and chief executive officer of Hawaiian Electric. Mr. Mark glick, chief manager of the Hawaii State Energy office, and mr. Leodoloff asuncion, chair of the hawaii Public Utilities commission. We appreciate you all being here and and i look forward to hearing from you. You are aware the subcommittee is holding oversight hearing and when doing so with the practice of taking testimony under oath. Do any of you have an objection to taking testimony under oath or give your testimony under oath . Seeing no objection, well proceed. I would advise you you can be provided counsel biggie if you desire to be advised by counsel during testimony today . Are right. I dont see any asking for that so if you all would please stand and raise your right hand. [witnesses were sworn in] seen the witnesses all answered in the affirmative, you are now sworn. You may sit them. You are now sworn in and subject to the penalty under u. S. Code. With that will not recognize ms. Kimura for fiveminute Opening Statement. Thank you chair griffith. Pusher mic. Working . Maybe you can pull it closer to you. Is that better . Is a little better. What do our technician say . Are we okay . I think were good. Go ahead. Okay. Aloha and good morning. On august 8 in lahaina maui we saw human loss and devastation at the speed and scale that is difficult for our hearts and minds to process. I want to start by honoring those lost, those whose lives have been forever changed by this overwhelming and tragic event. Most of you know the word aloha. There is another word in hawaiian language. Loosely translated, this word means responsibility. But like aloha, they cannot be simply defined. It is a deep sense of responsibility that is both an obligation and a privilege. Its a responsibility that has been entrusted to you by your family, by your community, by the generations that came before you, and those that will follow you. It is ones responsibility within a bigger system or community to which one belongs. Its a privilege to have it within this interdependent system, and to one another. For generations past, present, and future Hawaiian Electrics is to hawaii. We are committed to be there for maui and lahaina for as long as it takes to recover, to rebuild, and help ensure a tragedy like this never happens again. In that spirit i hope all of us can see as our shared responsibility to honor people of lane as we do this work as part of a collective community. I hope we can start to find solutions that will help protect hawaii and the rest of the nation from increasing threats, of Natural Disasters like hurricanes and those that we rarely experienced including drought that can fuel catastrophic wildfires on tropical islands. Hawaii is most isolated population on earth. This new electrical connection to the cottonelle use or even between islands. This is one of the reasons hawaii has a heist electric rates in the nation. On an island we have to be our own safety net. We cant call in a neighboring state if we run short. Our isolation is also one of the drivers for our efforts to become energy independent, to get off expensive, volatile, imported fossil fuels. Its that only about the environment but about our economy and Energy Security. As utilities go we are small, about 470,000 customers on five islands. 70,000 on maui. The department of defense is our largest customer. Hawaii is home to the u. S. Into pacific command, and we are the only utility in the nation serving all components of one combatant command. I i became president and ceo of Hawaiian Electric in january of 2022. Every day i feel a tremendous kuleana responsibility to our customers, communities and employees. Since august 8 ive spent much of my time on maui. Ive seen the devastation firsthand. Our team, including our maui employees who have been personally impacted by this tragedy, has been working tirelessly to support our communities. We all want to learn what happened on august 8 so that it