The once ‘safe investment’ in energy firms has taken a perilous turn as the Maui wildfire wreaks havoc on Hawaiian Electric Industries, causing its stock price to plummet by a staggering 66 percent.
Typically, investors gravitate towards private utility companies that operate a significant portion of the American power grid, seeking consistent and gradual returns.
However, the destructive fires in Hawaii have prompted shareholders to rapidly abandon the parent company of Hawaii Electric, raising questions about its potential involvement in the wildfire’s outbreak.
The rush to divest from the utility’s stocks has triggered a sharp decline in share prices since August 7, reaching levels not observed since 1987.
Additionally, bondholders have offloaded the company’s debt at significant discounts, intensifying concerns on Wall Street that what was once considered a secure investment in utility enterprises could transform into a substantial risk.
Hawaiian Electric Industries’ stock price was situated at $37.36 on August 7, the day before the wildfires erupted in Hawaii, but has since plummeted to $12.86.
While the exact cause of the fire that has claimed at least 111 lives in Lahaina remains undetermined, suspicions have arisen regarding the potential involvement of the utility company’s equipment in accelerating the spread of the blaze.
Criticism has emerged over Hawaiian Electric’s failure to deactivate power lines during periods of high winds and dangerous fire conditions.
Reports have surfaced alleging that inadequate grid maintenance contributed to the disaster, with videos circulating on social media showcasing powerlines intertwined with overgrown trees and vegetation.
Hawaiian Electric CEO Shelee Kimura addressed the absence of an automatic shut-off plan in a press conference, explaining that such a measure could harm vulnerable populations, disrupt hospital operations, and impede firefighting efforts.
Despite these challenges, class action lawsuits have been filed against the company, attributing responsibility for the catastrophic fires and their resulting devastation to Hawaiian Electric’s actions.
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has subsequently downgraded the company’s stock rating to BB-, reflecting heightened uncertainty and risk due to the lawsuits.
The economic fallout from the wildfires could be staggering, with both the Pacific Disaster Center and FEMA estimating the potential costs of rebuilding Hawaii after the fires at over $5.5 billion.
This surpasses Hawaiian Electric Industry’s book equity of approximately $2.2 billion, raising concerns about the company’s financial stability.
As a result, the utility sector’s image as a safe investment is being challenged, with analysts and investors reevaluating the risks associated with utility companies.
The prospect of substantial payouts has led to calls for infrastructure upgrades, potentially leading to higher costs for consumers.
Amid the crisis, Hawaiian Electric has agreed to cooperate with investigations into its role in the wildfire and has expressed a commitment to understanding the incident’s causes to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The company’s emphasis on transitioning to renewable energy, coupled with its response to the 2019 wildfires, has raised questions about its allocation of resources for fire prevention measures.
As the company grapples with the aftermath of the disaster and impending legal action, its financial stability and strategic priorities are under intense scrutiny.
Despite these challenges, Hawaiian Electric remains focused on restoration efforts, with significant resources dedicated to repairing infrastructure and restoring power to impacted areas.
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