Over 900 Hawaiian Electric Customers Still Without Power Following Storms
Severe weather conditions have resulted in over 900 Hawaiian Electric Co. customers on Maui and Oahu still being without power as of tonight, according to the company’s outage map. The situation has led to an extensive repair and restoration operation being conducted by Hawaiian Electric’s engineers throughout the day.
Weather-Related Power Outages
Hawaiian Electric crews have been restoring the storm-related power outages that affected customers on Hawaii island, Oahu, and Maui. Earlier in the day, a total of 18,150 customers were affected. Currently, Hawaii island has about 10,000 customers without power in North Kohala, Volcano, and Punaluu, Maui County has approximately 700 customers affected in parts of Upcountry Maui, and Oahu has around 1,776 customers without power in Punchbowl and Manoa areas.
The company encouraged customers in Upcountry Maui to prepare for an extended outage, possibly overnight, as crews work to restore power lines brought down by the storm. On Hawaii island, power is anticipated to be restored to North Kohala by 7 p.m. and in the Volcano area by 10:30 p.m.
Restoration Efforts Hampered By Natural Barriers
Heavy rains and wind may hinder the ability to safely make repairs, the utility stated. Notably, crews are unable to access the Punaluu area due to road closures caused by flooding. Hawaiian Electric urged customers who live outside these areas and still remain without power to call their Trouble line.
The Electric company cautioned individuals to assume that downed power lines were energized and hence dangerous, advising that people stay at least 30 feet or more away from all power lines and warn others to keep their distance. In case of emergencies, residents are asked to call 911 for help, while for all Hawaiian Electric-related issues, they can reach the company through specified trouble lines.
Hawaii Electric Employees Strive To Restore Power
Earlier in the day, hundreds of Hawaii Electric employees were busy repairing the storm-induced power outages which affected a total of 18,150 customers on Hawaii island, Oahu, and Maui. The majority of the affected customers were mostly on the east and south sides of Hawaii island, portions of Upcountry Maui, and multiple areas across Oahu.
An equipment failure at the Iwilei substation on Oahu resulted in an outage affecting areas from downtown Honolulu to Chinatown early morning. The power was later restored to customers after 10 a.m. shortly after workers managed to repair the problem. Furthermore, a car hitting a separate high-voltage transformer in a parking garage caused another outage in downtown.
Customer Safety Is Paramount
Given the precarious situation, the utility company issued multiple reminders to the public regarding safety, “If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet or more away from all power lines. Warn others to stay away,” according to a news release.
