An investigation into whether a man was electrocuted Wednesday night when he stood on an iron electrical access panel next to a sidewalk has determined that insulation over live wiring in the access panel was faulty, the city said.

"Upon inspection yesterday of the box in question, DFM crews did find that there was an insulated connection where parts of the insulation appear to have been worn down," city spokesman Bill Brennan said. "The insulated electrical wires in that box feed electricity to street lights in the area."

Brennan said 40 similar boxes and 45 lamp posts in the area have been inspected, and no other problems of worn insulation have been found.

"We are continuing our inspections of boxes in the area," Brennan said.

Honolulu resident Michael Perron Jr., 42, was taken in critical condition to a hospital Wednesday night. He was standing on the access box at the intersection of Kapi'olani and University avenues when he apparently was shocked. He was later pronounced dead.

A witness told police the man suffered an electrical shock from the access box, which is just off the crosswalk, in a patch of grass next to the streetlight pole.

Experts have said that if the access box had live wiring with faulty insulation, then touching the street light while standing on the box would have caused electricity to course through the man's body.

The Department of the Medical Examiner said yesterday that a cause of death for Perron was being deferred pending further investigation.

Brennan said the city is awaiting the results of the autopsy to determine exactly what happened to Perron.

Brennan added, "The city is unaware of any fatalities caused by electricity coming from these types of boxes or streetlights, but will continue to investigate this incident."