MEDIA RELEASE
Hawaii Electric Light reports that customers in various areas around the island experienced a power interruption this morning.
An estimated 30,000 customers experienced a power interruption at about 10:20 a.m. when Hawaii Electric Light’s CT-4 unit tripped offline at the Keahole Power Plant. Automated load-shedding, which is necessary to protect the island’s power grid, was implemented immediately. Alternate generation was started and most customers were restored by 10:40 a.m. with the exception of about 1,500 customers in Hawaiian Paradise Park. The remaining customers were restored by 11:03 a.m.
“We understand that power outages are disruptive, and we sincerely apologize to our customers who were inconvenienced by this interruption,†said spokeswoman Rhea Lee-Moku. “We are working to identify the cause and will make repairs once the cause is determined.â€
Most utility grids occasionally experience a sudden loss of generation. This could occur when a generator unexpectedly trips offline or when weather conditions significantly reduce the amount of energy produced from renewable resources. Loss of generation has a greater and more immediate impact on an island grid because there is no interconnection to other utility grids.
“We appreciate our customers’ patience,†Lee-Moku said. “We want to assure our customers that we have sufficient generation to continue to serve our community.â€
Updates on power outages and restoration efforts can be found on Hawaii Electric Light’s Twitter account: @HIElectricLight. To report a power outage, please call (808) 969-6666.
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