HEI - Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.
07/31/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/31/2024 21:09
5 P.M. UPDATE: Customers asked to conserve, rolling outages on Oahu about 10 p.m.
5 P.M. UPDATE: Customers asked to conserve, rolling outages on Oahu about 10 p.m.
Additional generation at Kahe Power Plant brought online
Release Date: 7/31/2024
HONOLULU, July 31, 2024 - Due to a shortage of generation capacity, Hawaiian Electric may be forced to turn off power to selected areas of Oahu beginning about 10 p.m.
Previous demand forecasts predicted insufficient generation earlier in the evening, but Hawaiian Electric crews were able to ramp up additional generation resources at Kahe Power Plant and expect that large-scale battery storage will help provide power to all customers through the evening peak.
To balance the amount of generation and demand, customers should prepare for rotating outages in various parts of the island lasting approximately 30 minutes. The duration of any outages may vary depending on the amount of generation available at the time.
The situation is dynamic and Hawaiian Electric will provide regular updates on its social media channels.
The generation shortfall is the result of the unexpected loss of the largest independently-owned power plant on the island. At around 1 a.m., the 208-megawatt plant operated by Kalaeloa Partners suddenly went offline with the rupture of an underground pipe that is necessary for operations. Hawaiian Electric is working on restarting other generating units that have been undergoing maintenance and has relied on solar energy systems, available wind power and battery energy storage systems to help make up the shortfall of generation during the day.
Hawaiian Electric is using companywide resources and working to return generating units to service as soon as possible. Customer conservation will also help. Kalaeloa Partners expects repairs to its plant may take three days. Until those repairs are complete, rotating outages during times of peak demand may be necessary and customers are being asked to reduce their use of electricity, especially during the evening.
If needed, the approximately 30-minute outages will rotate through the following areas in this order:
- Waipahu, sections of Pearl City, Kunia, Ewa Beach
- Waiawa, Crestview, Mililani, Kunia, Waimalu, Upper Kipapa areas
- Pearl City, Waimalu
- Majority of leeward areas
- Lower Kalihi, sections of Upper Kalihi
- Kakaako
- Sections of Kahala
- Sections of Kaimuki and Kapahulu
- Majority of Kaimuki, sections of Kapiolani Boulevard and Waikiki
- University of Hawaii Manoa campus, Manoa
- Nuuanu and School Street area
Because of recent large outages, downtown, Chinatown and Hawaii Kai aren't included in the outage rotation for July 31.
Customers - including hotels and large commercial customers - are being asked to reduce their electricity use as much as possible, especially between 5 and 9 p.m. For residential customers, turning off air conditioners and unneeded lighting, shutting off water heaters and pumps, and shifting activities like cooking, showering, laundry, and dishwashing to the daytime, when solar is abundant, is also recommended.