Public conservation efforts and an increase in additional power-generation resources at Kahe Power Plant helped to avert rolling power outages on Oahu on Wednesday evening, according to Hawaiian Electric.

What You Need To Know

  • HECO spokesperson Darren Pai: 'We’re still monitoring the generation situation, but everyone’s conservation efforts made a significant difference last night'
  • The utility had warned of a generation shortfall caused when the 208-megawatt plant operated by Kalaeloa Partners, the largest independently owned power plant on Oahu, was knocked offline by an underground pipe rupture around 1 a.m. Wednesday
  • Anticipating the potential need for rolling outages, HECO put out a call Wednesday afternoon for customers to conserve electricity, particularly between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.
  • Repairs to the plant are ongoing and could take up to three days in total

 

“We thank our customers for their patience and support during (this) period of tight generation margins,” said HECO spokesperson Darren Pai. “We’re still monitoring the generation situation, but everyone’s conservation efforts made a significant difference last night.”

The utility had warned of a generation shortfall caused when the 208-megawatt plant operated by Kalaeloa Partners, the largest independently owned power plant on Oahu, was knocked offline by an underground pipe rupture around 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Anticipating the potential need for rolling outages, HECO put out a call Wednesday afternoon for customers to conserve electricity, particularly between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Repairs to the plant are ongoing and could take up to three days in total.

In a released issued on Thursday, HECO said it is closely monitoring the situation, which it characterized as “dynamic,” and working to bring more resources online at both the Kahe and Waiau power plants.

Nuy Cho is the executive producer of Spectrum News Hawaii.  Read more of her stories here.