HONOLULU >> The U.S. Department of Energy is spending $500,000 on a project to boost electric grid reliability in Hawaii. 

The department said Wednesday Hawaiian Electric will use the money to deploy technology capable of measuring instantaneous voltage, current and frequency at specific locations on the grid. 

This technology — called synchrophasor — allows utilities to foresee and respond to changing grid conditions, make decisions that prevent power outages and speed up restoration. 

Hawaiian Electric will also invest $500,000 of its own money in the project. 

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa says the technology will help Hawaii incorporate more renewable energy sources into the grid. She says it will also help Hawaii avoid widespread power outages. 

The Hawaii project is one of six in five states to receive funding.