HILO, Hawaii — An unusual combination of the unavailability of several large generators that are experiencing mechanical problems, are at reduced output or undergoing maintenance is forcing Hawaiian Electric to ask all its customers on Hawaii Island to reduce or shift their electricity use through April.

What You Need To Know

  • Hawaii Island customers may see alerts asking them to conserve energy, especially on days when there isn’t much wind that generates up to 15% of electricity

  • When alerts are issued, Hawaiian Electric is asking customers to take immediate action to minimize electricity use

  • Even when no alerts are issued, customers — including hotels and large retailers — are urged to reduce electricity use as much as possible, especially between 5 and 9 p.m. on weekdays

  • If there is not enough electricity to meet demand, Hawaiian Electric may initiate rolling outages of up to an hour around the island

In addition, the company said the largest generator, an independent power producer that sells electricity to Hawaiian Electric, is offline with significant mechanical issues. The plant generates 60 megawatts or nearly one-third of the typical peak demand of 180 megawatts on the island.

According to a news release, Hawaiian Electric is using its resources and working with independent power producers to return units to full capacity as soon as possible.

One of the company’s larger generators is scheduled to return from an overhaul on the mainland around mid-April. Until then, power generation will be “extremely tight,” especially if output from wind, solar and hydroelectric sources is lower than usual.

Hawaii Island customers may see alerts asking them to conserve energy, especially on days when there isn’t much wind that generates up to 15% of electricity.

When alerts are issued, Hawaiian Electric is asking customers to take immediate action to minimize electricity use.

Even when no alerts are issued, customers — including hotels and large retailers — are urged to reduce electricity use as much as possible, especially between 5 and 9 p.m. on weekdays.

Turn off air conditioners and unneeded lighting, shut off water heaters and pumps, and shift activities such as cooking, showering, laundry and dishwashing. Shifting the use of large appliances, such as laundry, to the daytime when solar is abundant, is recommended.

If there is not enough electricity to meet demand, Hawaiian Electric may initiate rolling outages of up to an hour around the island. The areas and timing will be based on the demand that needs to be reduced.

Hawaiian Electric will post alerts on its X (formerly known as Twitter) and Facebook accounts. Customers can also subscribe to Hawaii County Civil Defense’s emergency notification system, Everbridge, to receive alerts.

There may be delays or busy signals on the Trouble Line, 808-969-6666, due to high call volume. Contact options include calling Customer Care at 808-969-6999 or direct message on X or Facebook. Information is also available on their website.

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.