Categorized | Business, Energy

Rolling power outages due to lack of generation capacity on Hawaii Island

MEDIA RELEASE 9:30 p.m. 2/20/16

Hawai‘i Electric Light thanks its customers for their patience and efforts to conserve electricity use this evening. Power was restored by 8:05 p.m. About 26,300 customers were impacted by rotating power interruptions between 20-30 minutes Saturday evening. Any customer who is still without power should call the Hawai‘i Electric Light trouble desk at 969-6666.

Rotating power interruptions occurred this evening between 6:17 p.m. and 8:05 p.m. due to an unusual set of circumstances that resulted in insufficient generation for the evening peak. Three major generators were not available due to unexpected mechanical problems: Hawai‘i Electric Light’s CT4 and CT5 at its Keahole power plant, and Hamakua Energy Partners’ steam turbine unit. Another unit, CT1, was not in service due to a planned overhaul. In addition, there were no wind resources for the evening peak and the dry conditions have drastically reduced the amount of available hydro power.

The power interruptions were necessary to avoid a more widespread interruption or damage to the electric system from an imbalance of too much demand versus too little available generation.

Hawai‘i Electric Light is working on repairs to the two Keahole combustion turbine units and is also working to return its CT1 unit early from a planned overhaul. The Hamakua Energy Partners steam turbine unit is not expected to return to service until Tuesday. Hawai‘i Electric Light will be starting its Puna steam unit, which takes several hours to bring on line.

“Our employees are working to repair our generation units. As a contingency, we will be starting up our Puna steam unit for Sunday’s evening peak use period. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and cooperation,” said Rhea Lee-Moku, Hawai‘i Electric Light spokeswoman.

MEDIA RELEASE

Hawai‘i Electric Light is asking Hawai‘i Island customers to conserve electricity use this evening (especially between 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Feburary 20, 2016) due to the unavailability of three major generators: Hawai‘i Electric Light’s CT4 and CT5 at its Keahole power plant, and Hamakua Energy Partners’ steam turbine unit. In addition, wind resources are presently at zero.

As a precaution, to ensure sufficient power is available to meet the early evening peak demand for electricity, Hawai‘i Electric Light is asking all customers to conserve energy. The time between 6-8 p.m. is especially critical when customer usage normally climbs due to early evening cooking, bathing and other activities.

Suggested steps include: turning off or lessening use of air conditioners, delaying hot showers and dishwashing activities, delaying oven and dryer use, and minimizing cooking until later in the evening.

Hawai‘i Electric Light is working on repairs to the two Keahole combustion turbine units. Half-hour power outages may be implemented around the island to maintain system stability this evening.

“We understand the evening hours are an especially inconvenient time to cut back on electricity. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and cooperation,” said Rhea Lee-Moku, Hawai‘i Electric Light spokeswoman.

UPDATED (8:18 p.m. on 2/20/2016)

HELCO reports all customers have had power restored and no additional outages are planned at this time.

Customers who are having problems with their power service should contact the HELCO trouble line at (808) 969-6666

UPDATED (7:29 p.m. on 2/20/2016)

HELCO reports power outages in the following areas for about 30 minutes:

  • Kopua Road to Na Makani Paio Park
  • Highway 19 Puueo Paku to Kaupakuea Homestead Road

UPDATED (7:16 p.m. on 2/20/2016)

HELCO reports power outages in the following areas for about 30 minutes:

  • Akolea Road to Kaumana City

UPDATED (7:07 p.m. on 2/20/2016)

HELCO reports power outages in the following areas for about 30 minutes:

  • Kapoho-Pahoa Road to Vacationland
  • Kaohe Homestead Road to Seaview Estates
  • Old Mamalahoa Highway to Kona Coffee Villas
  • Haawina Road to Kona Hospital Road
  • Kanoelehua Avenue
  • Shipman Industrial Park to Shipman Ranch
  • Aipuni Street to Kilikina Street

UPDATED (6:48 p.m. on 2/20/2016)

HELCO reports power outages in the following areas for about 30 minutes:

  • Kaupulehu, Kona
  • Kukui Nui Drive to Kolomuio Place
  • Hualalai Road to Aloha Kona Drive
  • Kanoelehua to Kalanianaole Avenue

UPDATED (6:31 p.m. on 2/20/2016)

HELCO reports power outages in the following areas for about 30 minutes:

  • Upper Waiakea Uka from Ainaloa Drive
  • Upper West Kawailani Street
  • Honaunau to Kealia in South Kona

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Twitter posts with the hashtag #BigIslandOutage.


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