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Hawaiian Electric consents to pay about half of $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement

Hawaiian's biggest utility said on Friday it had consented to pay roughly half of a more than $4. billion legal settlement that will compensate victims of last. year's fatal Maui wildfires.

Blazes tore through Maui on Aug. 8 2023, killing over 100. people, damaging the historic seaside town of Lahaina and. triggering damage estimated at $5 billion.

The lawsuits caused behalf of countless home and. entrepreneur declared that Hawaiian Electric failed to shut. off power lines despite warnings that high winds might blow them. down and trigger wildfires.

The settlement calls for the energy and its moms and dad. Hawaiian Electric Industries to pay $1.99 billion which. consists of $75 million already added to the One Ohana. Effort - a fund that offers financial support to those who. lost liked ones and suffered severe injuries.

The utility and other offenders did not admit to any legal. liability as part of the settlement terms which were concurred upon. after four months of mediation.

Hawaiian Electric has formerly argued that its power lines. were responsible for the earlier of two fires in Lahaina, but. the lines were shut down after that and the town was gutted by a. various fire which started later on in the afternoon and could. not be contained by the county's fire department.

Achieving this resolution will permit all parties to move. forward without the added obstacles and divisiveness of the. litigation procedure, the utility's chief executive, Shelee. Kimura, stated in the statement.

The settlement would also bring greater certainty for the. business, allowing it to begin to restore ... monetary. stability, the declaration stated.

The proposed payments are expected to start from mid-2025. after judicial evaluation and approval, it added.

(source: Reuters)