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The company spent $138.4 million on wildfire-related expenses in 2023, including $34.9 million in legal fees.  

Timothy Johns has recused himself from some HECO decisions, as an activist shareholder calls for overhauling HECO’s board.

Utilities, insurers, large landowners and the state would pay into a “wildfire relief fund” to help pay for property damage claims.

The community wants more changes to make the grid safer, such as burying lines underground. That planning process hasn’t started yet.

Hawaiian Electric says proposed legislation is not intended to shift any lawsuit settlements to consumers.

Insurers have paid more than $1 billion in claims related to the Lahaina wildfires and want reimbursement from the utility.

They would offer plenty of benefits, but it’s difficult to build those systems and will need buy-in from the West Maui community.

More than 65 lawsuits have been filed in state court on Maui against Hawaiian Electric, Maui County, the state and a number of other defendants over the Maui wildfires. Legal experts say the current situation may well be unmanageable for the state’s judicial system.

With billions of dollars at stake and the potential for thousands of lawsuits, lawyers are trying to bring order to the chaos of litigation sweeping into Hawaii courts.

The notice of removal, if allowed to stand, would avoid a Maui jury and could lead to an exodus of cases from the island that has suffered most.